An early ejection and a depleted roster left the Mavericks struggling against Chicago's offense, ultimately sealing their defeat.
CHICAGO — Jason Kidd spent most of Saturday night watching instead of coaching, and the Dallas Mavericks never recovered.
Kidd was ejected less than seven minutes into the game, and a shorthanded Dallas roster struggled to keep pace in a 125–107 loss to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The defeat dropped the Mavericks to 14-25 and closed a three-game road trip with a 1-2 mark, while Chicago improved to 18-20.
Dallas entered the night already compromised. Anthony Davis remained sidelined with ligament damage in his left hand, P.J. Washington was out with an ankle injury, and Brandon Williams was unavailable due to illness. When Kidd was assessed two technical fouls during a first-quarter timeout, the challenge became steeper.
The sequence stemmed from a disputed goaltending call. Kidd attempted to challenge the ruling, but Chicago inbounded the ball before the challenge could be initiated. The exchange with referee Scott Foster escalated quickly and resulted in Kidd’s automatic ejection with 5:44 remaining in the opening quarter.
Lead assistant Frank Vogel assumed coaching duties for the remainder of the game, a role he knows well after more than a decade as an NBA head coach.
Vogel addressed the situation immediately after the game, explaining how the moment unfolded.
“We were trying to challenge a play,” Vogel said. “They inbounded the ball before we could. I thought we had the right to challenge it. He and Scott got into it and it led to the ejection.”
Chicago capitalized on the disruption and the depleted Dallas frontcourt. The Bulls scored at least 30 points in three of the four quarters, pushing the pace early and consistently finding seams in transition.
The Bulls led 36-28 after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 66-55 at halftime. Any hopes of a sustained Dallas rally faded in the third, when Chicago pushed the margin to 94-79, then blew the game open early in the fourth with a 21-9 run that stretched the lead to 27 points.
Vogel pointed to execution and transition defense as decisive factors.
“You’re not going to win too many games by doing that,” Vogel said, referring to surrendering 30-plus points in three quarters. “It starts with offensive execution — too many lost possessions that led them into those fast breaks, and too little resistance when we were trying to get back.”
Chicago finished shooting 51.5% from the field and generated 38 fast-break points. Nine Bulls players scored, with seven reaching double figures. Coby White led the way with 22 points, Ayo Dosunmu added 20 off the bench, and Nikola Vucevic posted 15 points and 12 rebounds. Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro and Kevin Huerter each chipped in 13 points.
Dallas leaned heavily on players further down the rotation. Ryan Nembhard led the Mavericks with 16 points and six assists, while Naji Marshall added 14 points and three steals. Jaden Hardy scored 14 on 5-of-8 shooting, and Cooper Flagg finished with 11 points despite a 4-of-13 night from the floor. Max Christie and Klay Thompson contributed 10 points apiece.
Flagg’s shooting struggles drew attention, but Bulls coach Billy Donovan emphasized the bigger picture when discussing the rookie.
“Obviously, he’s got huge potential and ability,” Donovan said. “The first thing that stands out is just his competitiveness and how hard he competes and plays. I think he’s got a chance to be one of the special players. There’s no question about that.”
Vogel echoed that assessment, noting that Flagg’s aggressive approach often doesn’t show up in the box score.
“He’ll be the first one to say that,” Vogel said. “He’s going to the basket as relentless as anybody in the game right now. The whistle is not blowing on a lot of calls, and that can get you out of rhythm. But he’s a helluva player and a helluva kid. He’ll bounce back.”
With Kidd gone early, several seldom-used players logged extended minutes. D’Angelo Russell played nearly 19 minutes after sitting five straight games and scored eight points. Two-way players Moussa Cissé and Miles Kelly also saw action, with Cissé grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking three shots.
Dallas will return home to begin a four-game homestand Monday against the Brooklyn Nets. Kidd is expected back on the sideline, but with Davis still out and Washington’s status uncertain, the Mavericks may again be searching for answers — and stability — as the season grinds on.