Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd addressed his team’s late-game struggles following Monday’s 119-113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
Kidd said, “We got a quick turnaround. We got Denver tomorrow. Our defense has to be better there in the second and third quarter. Defense was really good. In the fourth quarter, it was not.”
Kidd highlighted turnovers as a key factor in the defeat. “Yeah, I mean when we can get shot attempts, it puts us in a better position, that’s for sure. But we had some careless turnovers there in the fourth quarter. Overall, to have 16 or 17 turnovers for 20 points, that’s just too many,” he said.
Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson carried Dallas early, combining for 42 points in the first half to help the Mavericks overcome an 11-point deficit and lead 63-57 at halftime. Kidd noted, “AD was playing great and Klay was getting some looks in the second half. I don’t know if he made one. I think he didn’t make one in the second half. It happens. But I thought he was great in the first half.”
Kidd stressed that finishing at the rim remained a problem. “We just didn’t finish some shots that were in the paint for us tonight. We got to be better,” he said. The Mavericks struggled to contain Zion Williamson down the stretch, allowing the Pelicans to erase an 87-79 deficit with a 38-19 run in the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter.
The coach emphasized the importance of taking care of the ball. “When we do take care of the ball, it puts us in a position to win,” Kidd explained. Dallas committed 16 turnovers and managed only 20 points off them, allowing New Orleans to seize momentum late.
Despite the loss, Kidd acknowledged his team’s early success. “AD and Klay were rolling. AD was great in the first half, kept competing and finding guys in the second half just because of his gravity,” he said. However, the Mavericks could not sustain that production against New Orleans’ pressure and finishing ability.
Dallas now faces a quick turnaround with a home game against Denver on Tuesday.
