Dončić and Irving Guide Mavericks to Decisive Victory Over Wizards for Sixth Consecutive Win

The win improved the Mavericks to 15-8, marking their 10th victory in the last 11 games. Dončić and Irving spearheaded the effort, but Dallas’ supporting cast played a significant role, with eight players finishing in double figures. After starting 6-8, the team is ranked third in the Western Conference standings, improving to eighth in the league rankings for defensive rating (109.8) and fourth in offensive rating (117.1).

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A Fast Start Sets the Tone

The Mavericks wasted no time taking control, opening the game with a 13-0 run. Dončić, Irving, and P.J. Washington each connected from beyond the arc during this stretch, while Dereck Lively II dominated the glass early. Lively grabbed 11 rebounds, including 7 offensive, in just 19 minutes, creating multiple second-chance opportunities and helping Dallas build an 18-6 lead.

“The energy is at a high right now,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “Guys are settling into their roles and playing at a high level. You can see the rhythm and trust on both ends of the floor.”

Despite the Wizards narrowing the deficit to 23-18 midway through the first quarter, Dallas responded with an 8-4 run to close the period. With Dončić orchestrating the offense, the Mavericks held a 31-22 advantage heading into the second quarter.

Dončić Takes Over the Second Quarter

Dončić asserted his dominance in the second quarter, dictating the game as a scorer and playmaker. He attacked the rim early for a layup before finding Klay Thompson for one of his three corner triples. Thompson, who finished with 11 points, provided critical spacing as Dallas began to widen the gap.

“Great, I think, offense and defense,” Dončić said. “Just sharing the ball, having fun playing with these guys on the floor. Everybody’s playing relaxed, locked in, [with] high intensity. We just enjoy each other.”

The Wizards adjusted by bringing in Jonas Valančiūnas to anchor the paint, but Dallas countered by exploiting the slower-footed big man in the pick-and-roll. Dončić repeatedly set up Daniel Gafford for easy finishes at the rim, with Gafford tallying 16 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.

By the midpoint of the quarter, Dallas had built a 22-point lead. Washington briefly cut into the deficit, narrowing it to 59-47 following a mid-range jumper from rookie Bub Carrington. However, Irving closed the half with a personal 9-0 run, dazzling with acrobatic layups and a pull-up three in transition. His scoring outburst sent Dallas into halftime leading 68-50.

“Kyrie got going. It was a bounce-back game for him. He didn’t score the ball extremely well in the Memphis game,” Kidd said. “Maybe it was the new haircut! But for him to go on that personal run—he’s one of the best at doing that.”

Kidd Praises Dončić’s Leadership

Dončić’s triple-double demonstrated his ability to control every aspect of the game and added another historic milestone to his career. The performance marked the 78th triple-double of his career, tying him with NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain and James Harden for seventh place on the league’s all-time list. Dončić has scored at least 20 points in 72 of those 78 triple-double performances.

“Those are unbelievable names,” Dončić said. “Just to be up there with them—it’s unbelievable for me. I never take it for granted. I just want to keep having fun playing basketball.”

Kidd praised how Dončić has approached the game, emphasizing how well he’s shooting lately and making the right basketball play to improve the offense. If Dončić gets doubled, the ball finds the open man, but Kidd also emphasized how the Slovenian superstar has been a significant contributor as a rebounder.

“I think when you talk about Luka’s ability, the fingerprint he can have on the game in terms of passing, rebounding, and scoring—he does all three at a very high level,” Kidd said. “Scoring-wise, he’s shooting the ball extremely well right now. When he sees the double team, he understands, as the quarterback, who’s open and how to get the ball to them, and he’s doing that at a high level. For us, we need him to come back and help us rebound, and he’s doing all three things at a high level. He’s leading his team, and we need that.”

“Do we need a triple-double every night? We’ll take it. That means we’re in a good spot to win a game,” Kidd added. “But just his ability and gravity to get a triple-double is something he does at a high level.”

Mavericks Extend Lead in the Third Quarter

Dallas came out of halftime to put the game out of reach. A 9-2 run to open the third quarter stretched their lead to 77-52, with Irving continuing to shine. He added five quick points, including a highlight-reel layup, earning reactions from teammates on the bench.

“I thought it set the tone for everybody to start the third quarter,” Kidd said about Irving’s impact. “We talked about taking care of business, and I thought the group did a really good job focusing on what we had to do tonight.”

Role players like Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie maintained the Mavericks’ momentum in the third. Grimes delivered a strong two-way performance, finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists while providing solid perimeter defense. Dinwiddie added 12 points and 4 assists, giving the Mavericks steady ball movement and scoring.

The Wizards attempted one last push, going on a 17-6 run fueled by Marvin Bagley III and Alex Sarr knocking down threes, cutting the Mavericks’ lead to 14 points. However, Dončić quickly reasserted control, orchestrating the offense with precise passes, including a no-look assist to Gafford for a thunderous dunk. By the end of the quarter, Dallas had rebuilt its lead to 95-69.

Bench Steps Up to Seal the Blowout

With the game well in hand, Dončić checked out early in the fourth quarter, having secured his first triple-double. From there, the Mavericks’ reserves took over, ensuring the blowout win.

Jaden Hardy provided a scoring spark, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in just six minutes of action. Olivier-Maxence Prosper chipped in with 3 points and 3 rebounds, while Dwight Powell contributed 3 points, 3 assists, and a steal to round out a well-rounded bench performance. Dallas extended its lead to 42 points in the final frame, closing the game in style.

“Offensively, you know, the ball is moving. We just talked about having more than five guys in double figures,” Kidd said. “Looking at the defensive end, being able to contest and rebound, and not giving up offensive rebounds—those are things that were maybe hurting us in the first two weeks of the season. And just the rhythm of the game, I think. The energy is at a high right now, and guys are settling into their roles and playing their roles at a high level.”

Dominance in Every Stat

The Mavericks dominated nearly every statistical category. They shot an impressive 53.9 percent from the field and an elite 52.6 percent from three, converting 20 of 38 attempts from beyond the arc. Dallas out-rebounded Washington 58-39 overall, including a 13-12 edge on offensive boards. The Mavericks also dished out 27 assists on 48 made field goals, highlighting their unselfish play.

“Really just, you know, the communication of just not, not settling, honestly. Not being satisfied, just stay hungry,” Gafford said regarding keeping early momentum for a full game. “Because, you know, just like Coach had said at the beginning of our meeting today, these are NBA players, too. They are pro players, and they’re not going to stop until, you know, the clock hits zero. So we couldn’t take that for granted at all.”

Defensively, Dallas held the Wizards to just 39.4 percent shooting, contesting shots and limiting quality looks throughout the night. This group has continued to take pride in defending at a high level, with Dončić taking pride in setting the tone. He had 2 steals and ranks fifth on the league leaderboard in the category, averaging 1.8 per game.

“I think just his activity and IQ. In the first half, he got on the floor for one steal. It shows that he’s into it,” Dončić said. “We’ve joked that he could be on the All-Defensive Team. He has great hands and understands what other teams are trying to do. For him to get those steals, and the way he’s been doing it at a high level since coming back, is something we need defensively.”

Kidd Calls Out Grueling Schedule

Despite the dominant win, Kidd reflected on the challenges posed by the team’s demanding travel schedule, including plenty of cross-country travel recently. The team had a three-game road trip that started in Denver before going to Miami and Atlanta, stopping in Dallas for one game before heading back to Washington, D.C., and then Toronto.

“The schedule is messed up. It’s something that needs to be looked at if they want the competition to be fair,” Kidd said. “The schedule has been messed up since we’ve gone west to go east—Denver to Miami to Atlanta, home for one, out to Utah and Portland on a back-to-back, and then back home for a cup game before coming here and then up to Toronto. We’ve gone as far west as you can go, and now we’re going as far east as you can go.”

Kidd mentioned that the Mavericks are not using the travel schedule as an excuse but encouraged the NBA to improve it to maximize the product on the floor. His team is going to compete on a nightly basis regardless, but if a superstar sits out for a game, the schedule is a factor.

“We’re not going to complain about it; it is what it is. But it’s not fair if you want players to play,” Kidd continued. “When guys sit out, they can’t complain about it when the schedule looks like this. But we’re going to play them. Guys are going to play. Still, it’s something that needs to be looked at if they want the competition and players to play.”

Looking Ahead

The Mavericks will aim to keep their momentum going as they wrap up their road trip against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. Following that, Dallas will shift its focus to the NBA Cup Knockout Round, where they’ll face the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 10 at Paycom Center.

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