Max Christie Makes Promising Mavericks Debut in Loss Against 76ers: “Better Than Advertised”

The Dallas Mavericks (26-25), continuing a new chapter without Luka Dončić, showed resilience and potential in a tightly contested 118-116 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers (20-29) at Wells Fargo Center.

In the aftermath of the blockbuster trade that reshaped the Mavericks’ roster, all eyes were on Max Christie, the young guard acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers. Christie, who averaged 8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists with the Lakers before the trade, immediately proved his worth. Christie scored 15 points, shooting a perfect 4 of 4 from beyond the arc, grabbed nine rebounds, and added defensive prowess, showcasing his ability to quickly adapt to his new team’s system.

“Christie was great. With 30 minutes on the floor and no practice, he was better than advertised,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said of Christie. “He showed his skills as a basketball player on both sides of the floor for us tonight.”

Christie reflected on his debut, noting the mix of emotions and his focus on adapting to his new team. He and Davis joined up with the team in Philadelphia after stopping in Dallas to go through the formal process to finalize the trade, but hadn’t practiced.

“It’s definitely a mix of emotions. I’m still learning some of the sets and getting to know the team’s dynamics, but I had fun out there,” Christie said. “Despite not winning, it was good to get that first game under my belt.”

Philadelphia 76ers Pull Out Late Victory

The game kicked off with Philadelphia setting a strong pace, led by Joel Embiid, who returned from a month-long injury hiatus to dominate both ends of the court. Embiid notched a triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, asserting his presence and impacting the game significantly. The 76ers ended the first quarter with a 36-31 lead, thanks to their sharp shooting and Embiid’s aggressive play.

The Mavericks responded robustly in the second quarter. Led by Kyrie Irving and Christie, Dallas outscored Philadelphia 34-22. Irving, who finished with a team-high 34 points, added nine rebounds, and four assists, while Christie’s perimeter shooting helped Dallas take a 65-58 lead at halftime.

Philadelphia regained momentum in the third quarter, with Tyrese Maxey and Guerschon Yabusele stepping up. Maxey contributed 33 points and 13 assists overall, while Yabusele added 19 points, helping the 76ers outscore the Mavericks 36-22 in the third and recapture the lead.

The fourth quarter saw multiple lead changes. Dallas momentarily reclaimed the lead on a three-pointer by Klay Thompson, making it 109-107 with just over four minutes left. However, Embiid’s crucial plays down the stretch, including a key layup with 22 seconds remaining, ultimately secured the win for Philadelphia.

Naji Marshall had a chance to take the lead but missed a floater with 15.1 seconds left. Dallas began fouling intentionally, Embiid split the free throws to make it a two-point game with 5.1 seconds to play. With Dallas trailing by one point, Danté Exum had a chance to make a play in the paint with Marshall in the dunker spot but Embiid blew it up—causing a shot clock violation. Philadelphia sealed the victory.

“We got it to Marshall the first time but didn’t capitalize on the layup,” Kidd said. “The second time, they tried to take him away, and he made a heck of a touch pass to Exum, but unfortunately, we just couldn’t get a shot off.”

With over three minutes remaining in regulation, Gafford went to the locker room holding his right shoulder and didn’t return to action. With the Mavericks already playing without Davis, along with Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture), Dallas lacked size down the stretch to handle Embiid.

Adjusting After the Luka Dončić Trade

Irving shared his shock and the emotional toll the trade took on the team. He emphasized the need to welcome new teammates and adjust to the new team dynamics as they aim to continue competing at a high level.

“Just really shocked. You just don’t imagine that you’re going to get ready to go to sleep and then you find out news like that. It’s still a grieving process right now, I miss my hermano [my brother]. We had a lot of time together, [Markieff Morris] too, and [Maxi Kleber], we just built some bonds that went beyond the basketball court, so if anybody can understand at home, when someone or a few groups of people leave in a trade, it’s going to be difficult, and that’s what we’re dealing with right now.

“This is a business, it’s way above my paygrade. I just have to adjust and be ready to welcome in my new teammates with open arms and be ready to go back to Dallas to speak in front of our fans,” Irving explained. “I know they’re feeling it, I’m feeling it too. […] It’s just an adjustment period. I don’t want to downplay this either or disrespect our new guys, they’re going to help us win and help us build towards a championship, but just like everyone else at home, kind of see it from afar, it hurts.”

Looking ahead, the Mavericks face the challenge of integrating Anthony Davis, who continues to recover from an abdominal injury. Davis’ return is highly anticipated, and his impact is expected to be significant.

Christie also spoke about what the Mavericks should expect to gain from Davis, his former Laker teammate, as he integrates into the lineup.

“AD’s return will significantly boost both our offense and defense,” Christie said of Davis. “His ability to impact the game at the rim and score 30 to 40 points on any given night will make our team even stronger. I think once we both fully adapt to the team’s systems, we can elevate our play to a higher level.”

Davis, averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this season, expressed his excitement for the opportunity ahead with the Mavericks. He’s eager to revert back to playing more at the power forward spot—a role he’s long coveted since playing full time at the center spot for much of his Lakers tenure.

“Nico believes in what I can add to this team,” Davis said. “We’re both extremely excited about what we can do, and I think we have a great opportunity to win a championship.”

Looking Ahead

The Mavericks return to action on Thursday against the Boston Celtics to end a five-game road trip. It could mark Davis’ debut as a Maverick as he was upgraded to questionable on Wednesday as he recovers from an abdominal muscle strain. He’s remained sidelined since he suffered the injury on Jan. 28 against the 76ers.

As the Mavericks adjust to their revamped roster, the integration of Christie and the eventual addition of Davis will be crucial. With another loss, Dallas ranks 11th in the Western Conference standings.