DALLAS (Oct. 11, 2025) – The Dallas Mavericks came up just short in their preseason matchup on Saturday night, falling 120–116 to the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center. It was a back-and-forth contest that highlighted both the Mavericks’ offensive depth and their ongoing defensive inconsistency as the regular season draws near.
Charlotte’s dynamic duo of Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball each poured in 20 points, leading a Hornets offense that found its rhythm early and never let up. Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 14 points, while rookie sensation Cooper Flagg delivered an electric second-quarter burst that kept Dallas in contention.
Sluggish Start for Dallas
The Mavericks looked out of sync to open the game, struggling to defend the perimeter as Charlotte buried early three-pointers and attacked the paint with ease. The Hornets raced out to a 17-point lead midway through the first quarter, forcing Dallas head coach Jason Kidd to call an early timeout.
“We just weren’t locked in defensively,” Kidd said postgame. “You can’t spot a team 17 points and expect to play catch-up all night.”
Dallas managed to rally behind a spark from the bench. Naji Marshall drew a pair of fouls and sank both free throws, while Max Christie knocked down a corner three to energize the crowd. With Anthony Davis resting for much of the first quarter, the Mavericks rediscovered their rhythm on both ends of the floor.
A buzzer-beating jumper from P.J. Washington capped a 12–3 Dallas run, trimming the deficit to just 34–31 after one.
Flagg Ignites the Offense
The second quarter belonged to Cooper Flagg. After a quiet opening period, the rookie forward came alive, knocking down a deep three, finishing a ferocious fast-break dunk, and draining a pull-up jumper over LaMelo Ball. His energy lifted Dallas to its first lead of the night, 47–43.
“He’s got that it factor,” Kidd said of Flagg. “The moment doesn’t seem too big for him. He plays with confidence, and that’s contagious.”
Flagg’s surge didn’t last long, however, as Charlotte’s starters returned to reclaim momentum. The Hornets regained control with a balanced attack, using their ball movement to generate open looks for Brandon Miller and Mark Williams inside.
Dallas stayed within striking distance, though, thanks to Thompson’s sharp shooting. The veteran guard sank a late three-pointer to close the half, keeping the Mavericks within two, 61–59, at the break.
Third Quarter Woes
Whatever momentum Dallas had vanished early in the third quarter. The Hornets opened the half with a 10–2 run, exploiting breakdowns in the Mavericks’ pick-and-roll coverage.
A flagrant foul called on Davis — who failed to give Miller landing space on a jump shot — further shifted the game’s momentum. Charlotte capitalized at the line and stretched its lead to 15.
From there, Kidd went deeper into his rotation. Washington and Marshall kept Dallas afloat, cutting the Hornets’ advantage to just four points late in the quarter. But another Hornets surge, fueled by Terry Rozier’s perimeter shooting, restored Charlotte’s cushion heading into the fourth with a 95–88 lead.
Fighting to the Finish
Dallas showed resilience in the final frame, outscoring Charlotte 28–25 behind timely buckets from Jaden Hardy and Grant Williams. The Mavericks had several chances to tie or take the lead late, but turnovers and missed defensive rotations proved costly.
Thompson’s three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining cut the margin to two, but Ball sealed the game with a pair of clutch free throws to give the Hornets a 120–116 victory.
Despite the loss, there were positives for Dallas. Flagg finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals in limited minutes, while Washington added 12 points and five boards against his former team. The Mavericks also held their own on the glass, matching Charlotte’s 43 rebounds.
Still, Kidd emphasized the need for more defensive discipline. “We’re getting good offensive looks,” he said. “But the defense — the effort, the communication — that has to come together before opening night.”
Up Next
The Mavericks (1–2 preseason) return to action Tuesday night when they host the Utah Jazz in their final home exhibition before wrapping up the preseason schedule. For Kidd’s squad, it’s another chance to tighten rotations and find chemistry ahead of the Oct. 22 regular-season opener against the San Antonio Spurs.
Final Score: Charlotte Hornets 120, Dallas Mavericks 116
Next Game: Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz — Tuesday, Oct. 13, 7:30 PM CT, American Airlines Center
