During the fourth quarter in Denver on Monday the Dallas Mavericks were in a tight contest. After both teams jostled back-and-forth with dominant quarters in the first half the game was nearing clutch time in a one possession battle. For a team like the Mavericks who have scratched and clawed for every win they’ve been able to muster this season, the script was all too familiar. As the team with the most clutch games played so far this season the Mavericks are seventh in number of clutch wins, but
first in clutch losses.
On Monday the Mavericks were up 118-117 when Klay Thompson’s layup put them up three with six minutes remaining. It was the first basket in the Mavericks’ 13-4 run to close out the game. The next nine points scored by the young starting trio of Cooper Flagg, Ryan Nembhard, and Max Christie to seal the win.
It is often sticky for franchises transitioning from one focus to the next. Altering priorities early in a season where you believed you could be a competitive threat in the conference has many nuanced challenges. Even if that initial belief was naive or misplaced. But one thing that has never been in doubt is the effort this roster is giving — a credit to everyone involved.
In the midst of this recent mini-win streak it feels notable that the engine of the team’s success is fueled by the young trio above: an 18-year old rookie, a 22-year old rookie, and a 22-year old fourth year player. In those three wins this starting trio has played 16 fourth quarter minutes together and secured a +27.5-Net rating. They’ve accomplished that with efficient scoring, low-turnovers, and lockdown defense when it mattered most. The numbers themselves are small sample size theater, but worth monitoring nonetheless.
During a dark November that saw the Mavericks lose 12 of their 16 games, the attention of Mavericks fans naturally drifted to lottery order. And while the value of the 2026 pick is very important to a team who doesn’t control their own picks in the near future, longterm it may matter more that the Mavericks notch wins fueled by the development of young players on the team. That is also not to say that the veterans cannot be high-impact. It isn’t coincidence that Anthony Davis has been a monster in wins against the Nuggets and Miami Heat, or that Klay Thompson has rounded into form in this recent stretch. It is their contribution working in tandem with young players driving the rhythm of the game.
The Mavericks were 2-8 in clutch games to start the season. Since November 16 they are 5-3, with Flagg ranking second in the entire league in clutch scoring. Whether an undersized player like Nembhard is a permanent fixture for a Cooper Flagg contender down the road matters little right now. Even if Christie won’t be the starter the Mavericks need in Flagg’s prime is secondary. The value is in building confidence and experience with the young pieces on the winding road of a long regular season. And the Mavericks placing future development at the forefront, no matter the result, will be the most valuable takeaway.
