Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd credited his team’s performance in their 122-109 victory over the Houston Rockets to a combination of offensive efficiency and strong defensive execution.
“I thought offensively, but I thought our defense was really good tonight… being able to rebound the ball and then the pace… the guys did a great job of keeping the pace and getting deflections and steals,” Kidd said after the game at American Airlines Center.
Kidd praised Anthony Davis for bouncing back after a tough outing against Oklahoma City, scoring 29 points on 14-of-19 shooting. “He had a great bounce-back game… it just shows how important he is to our team on both ends, defense and offense,” Kidd said.
P.J. Washington also drew attention for his defensive impact, tying a career-high with five steals. Kidd noted, “The fresh hands, fresh legs… when PJ plays, it gives us a chance to win and improves our defense.”
The Mavericks’ third-quarter surge proved decisive, outscoring Houston 37-20. Kidd attributed the run to precise execution and floor spacing. “Being able to convert… we had two different guards, speed and then solid… B-Will’s aggressiveness tonight helped us too,” Kidd explained.
Kidd singled out Ryan Nembhard for his calm court presence and passing. “He just tries to make the game easy for his teammates… posting up AD, the pass over the top for easy two… it’s fun to watch a young man have that type of control,” Kidd said. Nembhard contributed 11 points and seven assists, orchestrating the Mavericks’ offense efficiently.
Brandon Williams supported the backcourt with 20 points off the bench, while Cooper Flagg added 19 points, helping Dallas maintain a 98-77 lead by halftime. Kidd highlighted the team’s ball movement and trust among players as key to their success. “Catchable ball… the trust that guys believe they got a chance to get the ball… started in training camp and continued,” he said.
The Mavericks’ defensive focus limited Kevin Durant, who scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half but did not play in the fourth quarter. Kidd emphasized contesting shots rather than expecting to stop a prolific scorer. “KD has scored over 30,000 points. You’re not going to stop him. You just try to make it tough,” Kidd said.
Looking ahead, Kidd plans to use the extended schedule break to practice and recover. “We have a lot of practice time… try to take advantage of practice and rest until Friday,” he said, signaling a focus on sustaining momentum as the Mavericks face the Brooklyn Nets next.
