Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd focused on offensive struggles and rebounding gaps after a 110-100 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, a result that dropped Dallas to 19-31 while Boston improved to 32-18.
“I think when you look at just some of the stretches there where we can’t score,” Kidd said when discussing the team’s recent 0-5 stretch.
The veteran coach highlighted a decisive second quarter in which the home side struggled to generate consistent offense. “That second quarter was a little tough for us… our defense kept us in, not only allowing 20 points and we only scored 15,” he explained.
Kidd also pointed to momentum swings that widened the gap quickly. “There’s a stretch where we’re down 13 and all of a sudden in less than two minutes, we’re down 19,” he said, emphasizing how scoring droughts led to transition chances for the opponent.
Boston’s perimeter shooting and rebounding created extra possessions, which the Dallas bench boss identified as a key difference. “We know they’re going to shoot a lot of threes. We’ve got to rebound the ball, and we just didn’t do that well tonight,” Kidd said.
Despite the loss, rookie Cooper Flagg delivered 36 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, extending his run of high-scoring performances. “I think in the last three he’s averaging almost 40 points. He’s in a groove. He’s scoring the ball. He’s attacking. He’s making plays for his teammates,” Kidd said.
The coach noted that supporting shooters have struggled to convert open looks during the skid. “We’re just not shooting the ball straight. We’re getting some great looks that just haven’t gone down for us,” he added.
Caleb Martin’s energy stood out, according to Kidd, who praised the forward’s impact on both ends. “His hustle. He’s playing hard. His energy, his defense… he’s again attacking the paint, and he’s helping us on the scoring and on the defensive end,” he said.
Health remains a major concern for the Mavericks as they search for stability in the Western Conference race. “Yeah, well, it’s just our health. That’s the wand. We’ve got to wait until we get healthy,” Kidd said when asked how to ease the offensive burden on Flagg.
Daniel Gafford’s return after aggravating an ankle issue provided a rare positive moment in the defeat. “For him to come back after halftime was very impressive… we need all the buys we can get,” Kidd said, referencing the rotation depth.
Dallas shot 42% from the field and 9-of-32 from three-point range, while Jaylen Brown’s 33 points and Payton Pritchard’s 26 helped the Celtics control the tempo. The Mavericks will try to halt their slide against the San Antonio Spurs, while Boston continues its road trip in Houston.
