The Charlotte Hornets have won four straight by double digits. The Dallas Mavericks have won two of their last 15.
The difference in trajectory is hard to miss, and Tuesday night at Spectrum Center is likely to reflect it. Charlotte has climbed to 30-31 and into the Eastern Conference playoff picture on the back of a 14-3 run since Jan. 22. The Mavericks arrive at 21-39, shorthanded, and opening a six-game road trip that winds through some of the toughest venues left on the schedule.
Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Marvin Bagley III, Tyler Smith, Moussa Cissé, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II are all out. P.J. Washington, Caleb Martin, and John Poulakidas were upgraded to available. The Mavericks have had a different leading scorer in each of their last five games — a reflection of how unsettled the roster has been for weeks.
“It’s going to be a long road trip, and they’re going to be tough games,” Caleb Martin said after Sunday’s loss to Oklahoma City. “But you just take it one at a time and hopefully look up at the end of the trip and you’re in a good spot.”
Dallas Mavericks Begin Longest Road Trip Since 2011
The six-game stretch winds through Charlotte, Orlando, Boston, Toronto, Atlanta, and Memphis before Dallas returns home for a single game against Cleveland — 11 days on the road before a brief return home, then right back out for another back-to-back. Coach Jason Kidd called it the longest road trip for the franchise since 2011.
“Just the championship,” Kidd said of what he remembers from that trip. “That’s about it.”
He wasn’t concerned about the length of this one.
“It’s basketball,” Kidd said. “We’re not going to overthink this. Whoever’s healthy is going to play. Whoever’s hurt is out. We’ll play it and find a way to get better each time we take the floor.”
Martin, who posted a season-high 18 points Sunday, will likely see more offensive responsibility Tuesday. Kidd was direct about what he has seen from the veteran forward as the injury situation has forced more on his plate.
“He got off to a slow start, but with the minutes and some of the injuries, he’s taken full advantage of it,” Kidd said of Martin. “We’re asking him to do a lot of things. When he catches and shoots, a lot of those have gone in for him. He wants to do the right thing, so there is some thinking that takes place. But everything he’s done for us on both ends has been positive. We’d love for him to catch and shoot and not overthink it.”
Max Christie, who has made 133 three-pointers this season — a career high — will need to be sharp on both ends. Khris Middleton, who passed on a buyout and committed to Dallas through the end of the season on Sunday, is averaging 13.9 points and 4.3 rebounds on 48.5% shooting in seven games as a Maverick.
“His ability as a vet to score and to lead is something that’s needed,” Kidd said. “We’re happy he stayed.”
Christie spoke to what Middleton brings beyond the numbers.
“All-Star, NBA champion — his pedigree speaks for itself,” Christie said. “His wisdom, his guidance, him being a vet in our locker room is something that I seek out for sure. I continue to observe and watch how someone of his caliber goes about his business.”
John Poulakidas, Tyler Smith Give Dallas Mavericks New Options Off the Bench
Two new two-way players made their way into the mix over the weekend. Guard John Poulakidas and forward Tyler Smith both signed two-way contracts Saturday, and both were in Charlotte for Tuesday’s shootaround.
Poulakidas already had connections inside the locker room. The 6-6 Yale product from Naperville, Illinois, knew AJ Johnson from previous stops, Max Christie from the west suburbs of Chicago, and Ryan Nembhard from pre-draft workouts last summer.
“I’ve known AJ — I played with him in three different locations already, so that was pretty cool,” Poulakidas said. “Max Christie is from the west suburbs of Chicago, which is also where I’m from, so I’ve known him and his brother for a few years now. And Ryan Nembhard — we had more than a few pre-draft workouts together this summer.”
Poulakidas shot 47.3% from three in 24 games with the G League’s San Diego Clippers this season — the seventh-best mark in the league among qualifiers.
“That’s what I take pride in — my jump shot on the offensive end,” Poulakidas said. “My ability to stretch the floor can create so much open space for guys like Coop, B-Will, Ryan — guys who are going to have the ball in their hands to run the show. I want to take my defender away so that’s one less defender they have to worry about.”
Smith, a 6-9 forward selected 33rd overall by Milwaukee in the 2024 draft, can guard multiple positions — something Dallas has been thin on. He averaged 15.9 points on 50.9% shooting with 5.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 19 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
“I’m a three-point shooter, a versatile defender,” Smith said. “That’s one thing I worked on in the G League — showing that I can switch one through five. Just being versatile, helping on the boards, and doing what I can.”
Kidd addressed their role directly before tip-off.
“We’ve leaned on our two-ways a lot lately because of injuries,” Kidd said. “They’re limited on games, but we need to see what they can do going forward. We have two that can help us.”
Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and the Rookie of the Year Race
Tuesday’s game was supposed to be a showcase. Flagg and Hornets guard Kon Knueppel — former Duke teammates and roommates — met for the first time this season on Jan. 30 at American Airlines Center in a game that saw Flagg score 49 points, setting a Dallas Mavericks rookie single-game scoring record. Knueppel answered with 34, hitting eight three-pointers and sinking two game-winning free throws with 4.1 seconds left to seal a 123-121 Charlotte win.
A rematch with ROY implications would have drawn national attention. Instead, Flagg is out and Knueppel plays without him.
Kidd, who shared the 1995 Rookie of the Year award with Grant Hill, was asked about the current race before tip-off.
“Grant was the favorite the whole year,” Kidd said. “We got lucky at the end in March and April and played at a high level. Since then, they’ve changed the voting rules, so there won’t be a tie, unfortunately. This rookie class is deep — not just Cooper and LaMelo. There are quite a few guys helping their organizations right now. It’s good to see young players helping their teams and playing the right way. But those two are at the head of the class. It’ll be interesting to see who wins Rookie of the Year.”
The race is tight. Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks on 48.2% shooting in 49 games. Knueppel is at 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 48.9% shooting in 60 games, with a 44.0% clip from three that dwarfs Flagg’s 30.2%. Charlotte’s playoff push gives Knueppel a team-success argument Dallas cannot match. Most still consider Flagg the frontrunner.
Boston on Friday remains the more realistic return target. Flagg grew up in Newport, Maine, a short drive from TD Garden, and the Celtics game comes around just once a season.
What the Dallas Mavericks Are Up Against in Charlotte
Kidd had genuine praise for what Charlotte has built under first-year coach Charles Lee — enough to float Lee’s name for Coach of the Year.
“Great teams listen to their coach,” Kidd said. “I think they’re listening to Coach Lee. He’s under the radar — I think he should be Coach of the Year for what he’s done with this young team. They compete. They’re fun to watch. He’s a teacher at a high level. To find consistency with young talent in a short time isn’t easy.”
Brandon Miller leads the Hornets at 21.0 points per game and is averaging 27.3 over his last three outings. LaMelo Ball averages 19.3 points and a team-high 7.4 assists per game. Knueppel matches Ball at 19.3 points while shooting 44.0% from three. Miles Bridges adds 17.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game off the wing. With Coby White out, Moussa Diabate leads Charlotte in rebounding at 8.7 per game and figures to be a factor on the glass. Kidd broke down what makes LaMelo difficult to prepare for.
“It starts with LaMelo,” Kidd said. “He’s unselfish, loves to play, has fun. He’s 6-7, maybe 6-8 — he can see over the defense. That’s a strength. He can touch the paint, look over the defense, and find shooters. Some guards can’t do that. He brings energy. He’s talkative. He loves the game. He’s playing at a very high level.”
Coby White is out with a left calf issue, but Charlotte has the depth to absorb it.
“The crowd is gradually getting louder and louder,” Miles Bridges said. “Every win, we’re getting closer to the postseason. The fans are showing up for us and we’re feeling the love.”
Even while sidelined, Flagg has remained a presence in the Dallas locker room.
“He tries to keep guys locked in,” Daniel Gafford said. “There’s a lot of frustration, of course, because it’s not the kind of season we wanted to have. When it comes to injuries and the mental aspect of it, he comes in with a smile on his face and he leads by example and tries to keep guys focused.”
Martin didn’t dress it up.
“Effort and defense have gotta come first,” Martin said. “That’s gotta be our identity — playing hard no matter what. The points and all the other stuff will follow.”
Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at Spectrum Center. The game can be seen on KFAA-29 and MavsTV Stream.
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