MIAMI — The Dallas Mavericks fought hard but fell short in a 123-118 overtime loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday night. Playing without Luka Dončić for the fourth consecutive game, Dallas leaned on Kyrie Irving and a balanced supporting cast but couldn’t overcome late-game struggles and a cold overtime period.
Irving led the Mavericks with 27 points and six assists, including 14 points in the fourth quarter to keep the game within reach. However, Dallas shot just 2 of 10 in overtime and missed all six of its three-point attempts.
“It’s tough when you’re missing a guy like Luka, but we’ve got to find ways to execute,” Irving said. “We were in position to win tonight, but those little details—on defense, on offense—they’re what separate games like this.”
Read the full, in-depth game story here.
Head coach Jason Kidd commended the team’s effort despite the loss.
“We had a lot of guys step up tonight,” Kidd said. “Dereck was great inside, Naji gave us energy, and P.J. and Daniel made big plays on both ends. This was a total team effort, even if the result didn’t go our way.”
The Mavericks opened strong, taking an 18-10 lead in the first quarter, thanks to Dereck Lively II’s activity on both ends. The rookie finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks. Dallas weathered foul trouble in the first half, with the Heat taking 21 free throws before halftime, but managed to cut the deficit to 56-51 at the break.
Naji Marshall, who contributed 20 points off the bench, highlighted the team’s resilience in adversity.
“It’s a heartbreaking loss,” Marshall said. “Not disappointed, though—proud of my guys. We fought. It came down to a couple of possessions. Hopefully, next time we’re in that situation, we’ll be better prepared.”
The Heat capitalized on a dominant performance by Jimmy Butler, who scored a season-high 33 points, including a game-tying dunk with 4.3 seconds left in regulation. Miami outscored Dallas 9-4 in overtime to seal the win.
The Mavericks, now 9-8 on the season, will conclude their three-game road trip Monday night in Atlanta against the Hawks.
Video credit: Press conference recordings belong to the Dallas Mavericks.
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