On Wednesday night the Dallas Mavericks fell just short against the San Antonio Spurs, losing 112-111. It was an incredible game featuring some amazing highs and lows. Cooper Flagg looked like the MonStars stole his powers in the first half only to turn it around in the second. Naji Marshall finally came alive in the second half to help bring Dallas back. Kyrie Irving played a valiant game but couldn’t connect on a game-winner this time.
Following the game, Dusty May, Kyrie Irving, and Naji Marshall
spoke to media.
Dusty May
Opening Statement:
I thought we battled, competed in the second half. I thought we were much quicker to the basketball than we were in the first half. We stopped challenging Wemby at the rim, and started making better decisions with the basketball. And credit San Antonio, they found a way to win it at the end.
On the final shot:
I just wanted to give them a double gap. We had Fox on them, and wanted to get a drive middle and Coop cutting from the corner. Just felt like we had an advantage in space and probably attacked a little bit too late.
On Naji Marshall:
Naji was very good. I thought he made good decisions with the ball. He was competitive. He was active on the glass. He played really, really well.
On Cooper Flagg starting slow, then getting involved later:
I think he was making shots that he had made all year up to that point, and they just weren’t dropping for him. But I thought he just got lost in rebounding, and I thought he made great passes. I thought he played really well in just a really good floor game in the second half.
On trying to negate Victor Wembanyama’s impact:
Each game just is going to look a little bit different. We’ve got to just play the game in front of us. And it took all five of our guys and their activity on the glass to come up with those rebounds with as aggressively as they went with their wings. And then obviously, Victor getting nine offensive rebounds. That’s a lot.
I thought the second half we did a better job of staying down. It’s just when they are able to get their switches, and even when you defend it well and there’s tight spaces, they can just throw it so high above everyone else, and credit him, his spatial awareness and ability to catch it with one hand and redirect it into the rim. At the end of the day, his biggest possessions were his tip-in and those plays. And so the open-court turnover was big. That was an opportunity for us after I think we turned them over. We had an opportunity there, and they made a great play to sprint back and make a play on the ball.
Kyrie Irving
On the mindset and response once Dallas was down 19:
We just got back to the identity that we’re trying to build for ourselves, which is it’s not so much desperation basketball, but it’s just playing to be the hunters. I think we were playing on our heels a little bit too much in the first half. They were getting a lot of offensive rebounds, a lot of second chances. We were holding them to under 39 percent or around 39 percent on the first actions. They were missing shots and they got to the free-throw line. They slowed down the game. So you got to give them credit for the first half. The second half, I feel like we hit them and they had to respond, and that’s what got us back in the game. But it really came down to our effort and guys being ready to play, coming off the bench and giving us some firepower. So this is a team game tonight that we definitely feel like we can improve from.
On his aggressive play against the Spurs:
It’s just me getting in better shape and kind of getting off this minutes restriction a little bit and being able to give what the game needs more consistently. Conditioning is a huge part in our business, in our industry, and when you’re playing a competitive game, you want to be able to make an impact, and my teammates and my coaches trust me with that. So just got to do a better job with my minutes and continue to be impactful, but also just be aware that when teams are giving me shots and kind of daring me, or I feel like the possessions are getting out of hand, it’s time for me to just kind of be aggressive and put my foot on the gas pedal.
On the potential in Dallas:
Right now, it’s competitive me wants to say nothing, but big-picture me, and knowing the league and what we’re in, it’s definitely some positive notes that we can take on to next game, like I said. But I could talk your ear off about the game and what we can give and continue to give, but I think our actions got to speak louder than our words, and so it’s a tough one, but this one-point game isn’t a snapshot of just where we are as a team, I think. So I give us a lot of grace, but at the same time, I’d like to light a fire under our ass a little bit coming into Friday night against the Jazz.
Naji Marshall
On getting back out on the court and contributing:
Man, it was beautiful, a great feeling. I felt like I was able to help the team. I’m there for my teammates. I feel like I was letting them down. Just being sick, I know I’m a human, I can’t control that, but I just want to win and be there for my team. So I’m just blessed and happy to be back in my regular form.
On getting to play in crunch time and Dusty May, generally:
I’m rocking with Dusty. Whatever he does, whether he does or he doesn’t, I run through a brick wall for my team. I just do anything to try to get the win. I’m thankful that I can contribute tonight. Hopefully we can carry this energy on to Friday.
He’s a great guy. He loves the game. He loves this team. He’s all about this team. Win, lose or draw, he’s the same person every day. I think that helps me grow as a person, as a player, and just as a team. It’s contagious. Everybody’s a good dude on this team. Everybody has positive energy. Win, lose or draw. That’s something that you can’t buy, and just blessed to have it.
