‘No Excuses’: Dallas Mavericks Come Up Short Without Anthony Davis As Russell Westbrook Lifts Sacramento Kings

Grant AfsethDecember 27, 2025December 27, 2025

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, NBA

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks spent Saturday night oscillating between progress and self-inflicted damage, and by the final buzzer, the latter again proved too costly. Behind a steady, milestone-filled performance from Russell Westbrook, the Sacramento Kings survived multiple Dallas rallies and closed out a 113–107 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center.

Westbrook finished with 21 points, nine assists and five rebounds, moving past Magic Johnson for seventh on the NBA’s all-time assists list while directing an offense that consistently punished Dallas mistakes.

“Filling up the stat sheet at the age of 37, it’s incredible what he’s doing,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said before the game. “He just keeps finding ways to impact winning.”

Afterward, Kidd’s assessment was even more direct.

“Russ was really good this afternoon,” Kidd said. “Shot the three well, ran the team. He did everything he was supposed to do to help his team win.”

Already shorthanded, Dallas played without Anthony Davis due to right adductor soreness and continued to navigate the frontcourt without Dereck Lively II, who remains sidelined as he recovers from right foot surgery. Kyrie Irving also remained out while rehabbing from ACL surgery, and Brandon Williams was held out as he heals from a left calf contusion.

Early Control Slips Away Quickly

Dallas showed early intent, opening with assisted finishes by Daniel Gafford and Ryan Nembhard. That rhythm evaporated quickly.

Once Keon Ellis connected on his first 3-pointer, Sacramento seized control. Ellis scored 13 points in the opening quarter, repeatedly finding space off Westbrook kick-outs as the Kings began to dictate tempo.

Turnovers and rushed long jumpers crept into Dallas’ offense, and Sacramento turned those mistakes into transition points and second-chance opportunities. The Kings stretched the lead to double digits midway through the quarter, forcing Dallas into chase mode almost immediately.

“We just didn’t come out with great energy,” Cooper Flagg said. “Our starters have to be better with that, giving us a better start — me included.”

Sacramento closed the quarter ahead 31–23, already controlling both pace and possession count.

Second-Quarter Mistakes Compound

The Mavericks briefly steadied themselves early in the second quarter behind interior scoring from P.J. Washington and Gafford. Each push, however, was met with a calm response.

Westbrook repeatedly collapsed the defense, creating clean looks for cutters and shooters, while Maxime Raynaud punished Dallas on the glass. A late Raynaud three followed by a deep Westbrook pull-up extended the margin to 15.

Despite shooting efficiently, Dallas went into halftime trailing 59–44 — undone by 12 first-half turnovers and Sacramento’s control of extra possessions.

“Turnovers. A lot of them,” Kidd said. “I thought we just came out a little flat. After halftime, I thought we started to play the way we were supposed to, but we dug ourselves a big hole.”

Cooper Flagg’s Third-Quarter Eruption Changes The Tone

Dallas finally found life after the break, largely through Flagg.

After a first half that included four turnovers and just four points, Flagg emerged aggressively in the third quarter. He buried three 3-pointers, attacked downhill, and scored 15 points in the period, briefly cutting the deficit to five and silencing the building.

“Just resetting,” Flagg said of the halftime break. “Knowing I just gotta be a lot better and reflecting. Thinking about how they were guarding certain actions and what I can do better.”

Kidd said the message at halftime was not aimed solely at Flagg.

“No, it was to the group,” Kidd said. “Just understanding there’s no excuses. You’ve got to play the schedule. There’s a second half to be played.”

Lineup Adjustment Sparks Run

Kidd’s halftime lineup adjustment played a key role in the surge, as Dallas opened the third quarter with Naji Marshall in place of Ryan Nembhard, allowing Flagg to initiate more of the offense and push the pace against a set Sacramento defense.

“That group was great,” Kidd said. “They cut the 15-point lead down to three. Then once we subbed, it went back up to 18.”

The comment captured the night succinctly. The Mavericks’ best basketball came in short bursts, but sustaining it proved elusive. As rotations normalized, turnovers returned and Sacramento regained its footing.

Westbrook steadied the Kings again with back-to-back deep threes, and Ellis added another triple as Sacramento rebuilt the lead. The Kings entered the fourth quarter ahead 88–77, having absorbed Dallas’ best punch.

Fourth-Quarter Push Ends In Familiar Fashion

Dallas refused to fold. Klay Thompson knocked down multiple fourth-quarter 3-pointers, while Washington anchored the defense with four blocks and strong help-side rotations.

“I can help in that area — timing shots, being the low man, being the help-side defender,” Washington said. “I can impact the game that way.”

The Mavericks twice trimmed the deficit to five, the closest coming when Flagg finished inside with under two minutes remaining. But stops never followed scores.

“We were making runs all game, but the problem was we weren’t getting stops to back them up,” Flagg said. “You can’t expect to win digging yourself a hole like that and having 20 turnovers.”

The defining moment came with 41.7 seconds left. Trailing 111–106, Washington was called for an offensive foul while attempting to create space near the rim. Kidd challenged the call, but it stood.

“That was on us,” Washington said. “Not paying attention to detail. Just silly mistakes.”

Adjusting Without Anthony Davis Remains A Work In Progress

Saturday marked another game without Davis, and with Lively also sidelined, the Mavericks again found themselves operating with a thinner margin in the frontcourt. Dallas is now 4–13 this season when Davis does not play, a reflection of how quickly mistakes can compound without its primary interior anchors.

“Missing a guy of that magnitude is tough,” Washington said. “He’s dominant on both ends. For us, it’s about playing with more pace, moving the ball, getting downhill, kicking out to shooters, and being confident taking threes.”

Washington said the defensive burden grows significantly without Davis — and without Lively behind the play as a second line of protection.

“Defensively, it’s rebounding, keeping guys in front, not fouling, and taking care of the ball,” he said. “The rebounding was terrible. If we clean that up, it’s a different outcome.”

He added that the schedule and injuries can’t become cover for execution issues.

“The road trip has been tough,” Washington said. “We’re professionals — no excuses. We’ve got to be better.”

Turnovers And Fatigue Tell The Story

Flagg finished with 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists, delivering a dominant third-quarter stretch that briefly swung momentum back to Dallas. However, five turnovers — four of them coming before halftime — stalled several Mavericks runs and reflected the thin margin Dallas is operating with as responsibilities continue to expand.

Washington added 17 points, five rebounds, and four blocks, providing rim protection and physicality in extended minutes without Davis or Lively anchoring the frontcourt. Thompson chipped in 14 points off the bench, knocking down timely 3-pointers during Dallas’ late pushes.

Sacramento countered with a balanced attack. Ellis scored 21 points on five made 3-pointers, Raynaud added 19 points while consistently punishing Dallas on second chances, and the Kings totaled 32 assists. Sacramento converted Dallas’ 21 turnovers into 28 points, repeatedly halting momentum before it could fully build.

As the Mavericks navigate a demanding stretch, Flagg acknowledged the physical and mental toll of his first NBA season.

“I’m a little tired for sure,” Flagg said. “That’s basically as many games as I played all of last season. The mental part is the biggest change.”

What’s Next

The loss dropped Dallas to 12–21 overall and 3–12 on the road, its fourth defeat in five games. Sacramento improved to 8–23 and continued to control the matchup at home.

Dallas will close its road trip Monday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, still searching for consistency — and for a way to turn flashes of execution into a complete 48-minute performance.

Latest Dallas Mavericks News & NBA Rumors

Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

view all posts

Archives