Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd highlighted his team’s composure and execution after Thursday’s 123-115 victory over the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center.
“Just composure taking care of the ball… on the defensive end, and then on the offensive end I thought we did a good job of executing and sharing the ball,” Kidd said.
Naji Marshall led the way with 30 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, tying his season high. Kidd attributed Marshall’s success to daily practice and consistency. “When you look at those shots, he works on those every day… understanding being boring or simple can take you a long ways in life,” he said.
Cooper Flagg, back from a sprained left ankle, added 21 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. Kidd praised his composure and impact. “He started off rebounding the ball for us, so when he does that, it starts our break and we can get out and run… he’s a team guy,” Kidd said.
The Mavericks’ depth was crucial, with Max Christie scoring 21 points and Brandon Williams contributing 19 off the bench. Kidd emphasized the team’s trust and ball movement. “Everybody’s touching it. There is no eye right now where we’re just focused on one guy… Naji and Christie again being able to benefit from that,” he said.
Dwight Powell posted a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double, extending Dallas’ winning streak to four. “When you look at a double-double last time he had that was the year 2023… he comes to work every day and he never complains and he plays the game the right way,” Kidd said.
Christie’s defensive effort against Stephen Curry also drew praise. “He did everything possible… to be able to do it on the other end to play both ways is extremely hard, but Christie again is doing that for us at a high level,” Kidd said.
Kidd reflected on the team’s growth over the season. “We’re still learning… on this journey, guys are starting to grow up a little bit… understanding knowing each other down the stretch, understanding Coupe is going to have the ball and can he make the right play,” he said.
The Mavericks improved to 19-26 with the win, shooting 50% overall and 37% from three, while Golden State finished 45% from the field and 33% from long range. Turnovers were decisive, as Dallas committed six compared to 15 by the Warriors, fueling transition opportunities.
Dallas now prepares to host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, while Golden State begins a two-game trip at Minnesota. Kidd praised his starting lineup and rotation, noting the importance of balancing minutes and health. “That group that started tonight deserves to start… a short conversation. The group is starting, that’s the starters, and the walk-through… it’s real simple,” he said.
