Shorthanded Mavericks Snap Five-Game Skid with Win Over Lakers: “We Need to Build on It”
The Dallas Mavericks emphatically snapped a five-game losing streak, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 118-97 at American Airlines Center on Tuesday night. Despite missing Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks improved to 21-16, while the Lakers fell to 20-16.
Quentin Grimes delivered his most complete performance since joining the Mavericks, leading all scorers with 26 points. Grimes matched his career high by hitting six three-pointers on 11 attempts while also contributing nine rebounds and six assists.
“I feel like we came out with the right mindset as a team,” P.J. Washington said. “Jason Kidd wanted to make sure we didn’t play simple basketball – actions that benefit everybody and just keep it simple. We did a good job as a team tonight. I thought Quentin Grimes had a great game, I thought Spencer Dinwiddie had a great game, Jaden Hardy, a lot of us played well, even Maxi Kleber. Everybody had big minutes, and everybody stepped up to the table tonight.”
The Mavericks entered the night after a tough 119-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, where they struggled to maintain momentum without Dončić and Irving. Despite fatigue, they came out with renewed energy against the Lakers.
Washington added 22 points on 9 of 14 shooting, knocking down all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. He produced a strong bounce-back scoring performance after shooting 7 of 22 against the Grizzlies the night before. Regardless, he added eight rebounds and one steal, with plenty of defensive contributions.
“Everybody played together. We got in the paint, and good things happened,” Washington said. “Obviously, it doesn’t feel good losing five games, but to win tonight felt really good. We need to build on it and get back to work.”
Dinwiddie finished with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. His ability to direct the offense was pivotal, but Washington and Grimes set the tone for the Mavericks’ attack. The Mavericks needed Dinwiddie’s intentional effort to run the offense and patiently read the defense to create the best shot for the group.
“Credit Spencer Dinwiddie. I thought he played a great game at the point,” Washington said. “We’re going to need that from him with Luka and Kai out. Holding it down as a team is the goal – it’s just more opportunities for everybody.”
Exploiting Weaknesses Early
With Dončić and Irving out, Dallas wasted no time probing the Lakers’ defensive vulnerabilities. The Mavericks relied on spacing and off-ball movement to target Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht in pick-and-roll actions. Dinwiddie and Washington aggressively hunted mismatches, forcing the Lakers into frequent rotations and opening driving lanes. Washington often initiated these sets from the top of the key, creating open shots or fouls in the paint.
“We were downhill,” Washington said. “We put guys in the pick and roll that we wanted to put into the role, and we got good shots. Everybody played together. We got in the paint, and good things happened.”
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd opted for a smaller lineup early, subbing Dereck Lively II out with 7:11 left in the first quarter and bringing in Kleber at center, who played 29 minutes and had five points, three rebounds, and five assists. Lively wound up playing only 19 minutes on the night due to foul trouble, finishing with seven points, six rebounds, and three assists. The move allowed Dallas to double-team LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the post while maintaining floor spacing. Grimes thrived in this setup, scoring eight points in the first quarter, including two catch-and-shoot threes and a backdoor cut that led to a layup.
“We knew we had to stay aggressive,” Grimes said. “They tried to load up on the strong side, so we kept cutting and finding the open man. The ball was moving, and it felt like everyone was in rhythm early.”
Kleber’s defensive versatility was crucial in slowing down Davis, particularly while playing at small ball center with Daniel Gafford sidelined due to a left ankle sprain. Kidd praised Kleber’s all-around impact between his box outs against Davis and passing, leading to high-quality shots.
“I think Maxi is not gonna be talked about, but I thought he did an incredible job of boxing out, being able to be physical,” Kidd said of Kleber. “A.D.’s not easy. He’s one of the best players in the league, and I thought he made it tough on him tonight. And then also his ability to play-make. We won’t always call Maxi a playmaker, but his ability to put the ball on the floor and make plays for guys to get open threes was big for us tonight.”
Kleber acknowledged the importance of preparation off the court, especially with key players sidelined. He pointed out that the Mavericks’ limited practice time required relying heavily on film sessions and staying mentally sharp.
“There’s not much practice time, so we’re learning on the fly,” Kleber said. “It’s about staying mentally sharp, watching film, and making sure we communicate well. I think we did a great job executing and attacking the matchups we wanted.”
Kleber was ready to make an offensive impact at the five, knowing he would be involved in more actions. Regardless of his role in a specific lineup, he emphasizes making the right decisions to improve the offense.
“I just try to make the right decisions, whether I’m at the four or the five,” Kleber said. “When I’m at the five, you’re more involved because you’re in pick-and-rolls, the trail spot for handoffs – things like that. It feels like you have more of an effect on the offense.”
Dallas Mavericks Make Second Quarter Shift
The Mavericks opened the second quarter on an 8-2 run, driven by their bench unit. Grimes’ three-point shooting stretched the Lakers’ defense, while Olivier-Maxence Prosper’s relentless drives kept the pressure on Los Angeles’ interior. The Lakers tried to sag off Prosper by assigning Jaxson Hayes to him, treating him as a non-threat from deep. Prosper countered by aggressively attacking the rim, drawing fouls and finishing through contact.
“We knew they would try to leave O-Max open,” Washington said. “He did a great job driving and staying aggressive. That energy made a big difference.”
Midway through the second, Klay Thompson found his rhythm, draining three consecutive three-pointers that forced the Lakers into scrambling closeouts. He totaled an efficient 13 points coming off a rough shooting night. His ability to navigate off-ball screens and relocate along the perimeter made him a constant threat. Thompson’s movement stretched the Lakers’ defense to its limits, opening passing lanes and cutting opportunities for Dinwiddie and Washington.
“Klay’s a great player—when he gets going, it makes it a lot easier for us,” Washington said. “I thought Q had a great game, I thought Spence had a great game, Hardy, a lot of us played well, even Maxi.”
Defensively, the Mavericks shifted to more aggressive traps on James and Davis, occasionally sending a second defender early to disrupt their post-ups. This forced the Lakers’ supporting cast to shoulder more of the scoring load, which the Mavericks were content to live with. Grimes and Prosper were key in applying this pressure, often rotating between guarding perimeter players and switching onto bigger matchups when necessary.
As the half wound down, Dinwiddie punctuated Dallas’ dominance with a buzzer-beating drive, slicing through the Lakers’ defense for an uncontested dunk. It was a fitting conclusion to a quarter in which the Mavericks blended perimeter shooting with interior aggressiveness. Dallas entered the break leading 55-50, carrying momentum into the second half.
Holding the lead heading into halftime marked a significant improvement from the previous night’s loss to Memphis. In that game, the Mavericks squandered a first-quarter advantage by committing costly turnovers and allowing transition opportunities. This time, Dallas maintained poise and limited the Lakers’ fast-break chances by controlling the tempo and keeping their turnovers down.
Maintaining Control After the Break
Emerging from halftime, the Mavericks continued their aggressive offensive approach, showing little sign of fatigue despite playing the second night of a back-to-back. Dinwiddie, who was brought off the bench in Monday’s loss to the Grizzlies due to the absence of a traditional point guard, returned to the starting lineup and orchestrated the offense with precision. Dinwiddie repeatedly penetrated the paint and consistently found open shooters, stabilizing the Mavericks’ offensive flow.
Washington capitalized by making corner threes on multiple possessions, stretching the Lakers’ defense and opening driving lanes for others.
“Yeah, we played together, moved the ball well, got in the paint, and created for each other,” Washington said. “Our offense was flowing, and the defensive end was a lot easier.”
The Lakers responded with urgency. In his usual facilitator role, LeBron James began dictating the offense, spearheading a 13-4 run that trimmed Dallas’ lead to five points. Max Christie emerged as an unlikely catalyst during this stretch, scoring nine of his 12 points. Christie exploited defensive gaps with a combination of drives and mid-range jumpers, providing much-needed support as James continued attacking the interior.
Christie’s offensive burst came as the Mavericks dealt with foul trouble for Dereck Lively II, forcing Maxi Kleber to handle extended minutes at center. James took advantage by relentlessly attacking Kleber and Lively, drawing fouls and forcing Dallas into defensive rotations.
Despite the Lakers’ surge, Hardy provided a crucial spark off the bench with 15 points overall, burying three consecutive three-pointers to stifle Los Angeles’ momentum. Each time the Lakers cut the deficit to single digits, Hardy responded with a deep shot to restore breathing room. It was a timely contribution considering Naji Marshall, who has often stepped up as a scorer when the Mavericks have been shorthanded, contributed seven points on 2 of 11 shooting overall.
“Jaden Hardy hit some big shots,” Grimes said. “That was huge for us, especially when they started cutting into our lead.”
A significant factor in Hardy’s success stemmed from Dinwiddie’s ability to read the defense and make the right decisions in pick-and-roll situations. Dinwiddie exploited switches and consistently found the open man, orchestrating the Mavericks’ offense when the Lakers attempted to load the paint.
“Spencer did a great job recognizing the switch and making the right play,” Kidd said. “He didn’t force it. When they switched smaller guys onto him, he attacked. When the help came, he found the open shooter. That’s exactly what we needed, and he controlled the pace.”
Kleber also praised Dinwiddie’s composure and playmaking, highlighting how his presence helped steady the team during crucial stretches.
“Spence was huge for us tonight,” Kleber said. “He didn’t just score – he got everyone involved. Whether it was finding Q (Grimes), Jaden, or P.J. in the corner, he made sure we got the best shot possible.”
The Mavericks’ ability to counter each Lakers run with timely shot-making underscored their poise and execution – areas they struggled with during the loss to Memphis the night before. The discipline in limiting turnovers also stood out, as Dallas maintained ball security during pivotal moments.
Grimes punctuated the third quarter by sinking a transition pull-up three with defenders scrambling, pushing the Mavericks’ lead to 15 points. His shot capped a 10-2 run to close the quarter, sending Dallas into the final period with an 83-68 advantage.
Dallas Mavericks Closing the Door
The Lakers urgently opened the fourth quarter, trimming the lead to nine points within the first few minutes. Davis dominated inside, but Dallas responded with timely shot-making. With 5:35 remaining, Washington delivered a corner three, stretching the lead back to 12 and forcing a Lakers timeout.
Moments later, Grimes orchestrated a lob to Lively, who finished the alley-oop emphatically, solidifying the Mavericks’ hold on the game.
The Mavericks tightened up defensively and held the Lakers to their fifth game of the season, scoring under 100 points and their first since Dec. 13 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Davis totaled 21 points and 12 rebounds but shot 7 of 18 overall. James had a near triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Los Angeles had six total double-figure scorers but couldn’t crack 100 collectively.
Kidd commended the team’s defensive intensity, highlighting their ability to limit second-chance points. The Mavericks outrebounded the Lakers 44-33 and surrendered just five offensive rebounds throughout the game. Their commitment to boxing out and securing the glass was a focal point of their defensive strategy – a notable improvement after being outworked on the boards in Monday’s 119-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
“We shot the ball straight tonight,” Kidd said. “A lot of people touched the ball and we didn’t settle. I thought the offense was really, really good. But the defense was even better, being able to limit those guys to one tough shot. That’s not easy to do against a team like the Lakers.”
Against Memphis, the Mavericks were outrebounded 55-50 and allowed 15 offensive rebounds, which led to 20 second-chance points. The disparity in rebounding played a significant role in their loss, prompting Kidd to emphasize more physicality and focus on the glass heading into the Lakers matchup.
In addition to their offensive rhythm, the Mavericks also emphasized protecting the ball, committing just 10 turnovers for the game. This marked a significant improvement from the previous night’s loss to the Grizzlies, where Dallas turned the ball over 15 times and struggled to maintain offensive flow. Kidd highlighted the importance of cutting down on mistakes as a key point of emphasis.
“Our goal is 13 [turnovers] or fewer,” Kidd said. “If we can take care of the ball and get a shot, then not always are we going to make the shot. But if we can keep the opponent out of transition and let us set our defense, it gives us a chance.”
P.J. Washington’s Locker Room Message
Kidd praised Washington’s leadership, citing his pre-game message to the team as a catalyst for the win. Given the urgency of a five-game losing streak, Washington wanted to maximize the confidence in his teammates to end the slide.
“Give this group some time,” Kidd said regarding Washington’s message. “This is a new group. A lot of injuries. We’re learning each other, we’re asking guys to change their role. Guys have been in a positive state, the energy is great. We believe every time that we take the floor that we can win, but also knowing sometimes you don’t, but can you learn from that. It’s a long season, so I give P.J. a lot of credit for that voice in that locker room right now of keeping guys together.”
Grimes highlighted how Washington’s words helped set the tone for the team, emphasizing that everybody should play their game, be tied together as a group, and take it one game at a time.
“He came out and just let us know, everybody play their game,” Grimes said. “Go out there, have fun, and take it one game at a time. Play for each other, play as a team. I feel like P.J. did a good job of bringing us together for sure before the game.”
Kleber echoed Grimes’ thoughts, emphasizing how Washington’s message resonated throughout the team.
“P.J. told us to stay calm and stay with it. He reminded us that we’ve been through tough stretches before and just to trust our work and keep pushing,” Kleber said. “It definitely brought us together as a group.”
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks continue their four-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. The Lakers return to Los Angeles to begin a five-game homestand, starting with a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
“Obviously, it doesn’t feel good losing five games, but to win tonight felt really good,” Washington said. “We need to build on it and get back to work.”
