Once again, the Mavericks found themselves ensnared by the recurring specter of slow starts and heart-wrenching falters in crucial moments, culminating in a nail-biting 122-120 defeat at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. Denver, propelled by a scorching start, initially amassed a double-digit lead. Yet, resilient as ever, the Mavericks clawed their way back, seizing fleeting advantages throughout the contest.
Despite basking in the momentum that surged at the onset of the fourth quarter, the Mavericks choked when it truly counted. A familiar narrative has been the insufficiency of their defensive rebounding, which reared its ugly head once more during the critical final minutes in Denver.
The team’s struggles to box out were painfully evident, exacerbated by a woeful perimeter defense that permitted Denver to convert a staggering 48 percent of their three-point attempts.
Emerging from a lengthy seven-game hiatus, the Mavericks welcomed back Maxi Kleber, injecting much-needed depth into their bench for Sunday’s showdown. Initially deemed doubtful, Kleber was a sight for sore eyes, marking his return for the first time since the season’s second contest.
The mere presence of Kleber should have been a boon; his prowess on defense and ability to stretch the floor could have provided critical support, particularly given the team’s ongoing injury woes that have decimated their forward ranks.
Yet, as the game unfolded, it became increasingly apparent that the Mavericks’ negligence around the perimeter was serving as a self-inflicted wound following Denver’s blistering start. While Kleber’s reinsertion might not have been the panacea fans yearned for to curb the Nuggets’ shooting spree, his contributions could have mitigated the damage.
However, in a perplexing turn of events, Jason Kidd opted not to deploy the seasoned forward at all. When questioned postgame about this puzzling decision, Kidd cryptically termed it as “a coach’s decision.”
While understandable to remain cautious regarding Kleber’s health, completely sidelining him amidst struggles in rebounding and perimeter defense feels like a stark misjudgment on Kidd’s part.
Uncertainty loomed over whether Kleber was even prepared to play, but his omission during a time when the Mavericks desperately needed aids to combat their rebounding and defensive frailty should place the scrutiny on Kidd’s shoulders.
As the game teetered into its final moments, Dallas clung to hope until the very last second. Yet, in a heart-stopping finale, they launched a low-percentage shot to clinch victory, only to watch it clatter against the front rim.
Moving forward, Kleber’s role will be pivotal for the Mavericks if they aspire to harness the full potential of their roster.
Next up, the Mavericks face yet another formidable challenge, squaring off against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Tuesday night—the opening salvo of the NBA’s much-anticipated second-ever NBA Cup tournament.
