The Mavericks fell 111-135 to the Hawks on October 16, their worst preseason loss of the fall after an opening quarter they led into, 19-22. Dallas is 1-2 in exhibition play with the regular-season opener five days away, in the same building that handed Atlanta this one.
Close Early, Gone Late
Dallas trailed 22-19 after the first quarter, with Atlanta's lead capping at six points and the score tied twice before that. Nothing about the opening frame hinted at a 24-point final. Whatever happened over the final three quarters, the Hawks shut the door hard enough to turn a competitive start into Dallas's lopsided defeat of the preseason, 135-111.
Irving And Washington Hit Early
Kyrie Irving went 2-2 from the field and 2-2 from three for six points in his six minutes, an efficient cameo that ended at minus-3. P.J. Washington matched the shot profile almost exactly: 2-5 overall, 2-3 from deep, six points, also minus-3 in six minutes. Both got hot looks and made them; neither got enough time to turn it into a real answer for the deficit.
Grades, And Who Dusty May Trusted
Flagg gets a C-minus here: 1-4 shooting, three points and a minus-3 in six minutes is a quiet night for the rookie. Zaccharie Risacher (4 points, 2-3 shooting) and Daniel Gafford (scoreless, 0-1) both finished minus-6, the worst marks on the floor. Irving and Washington earn a B for efficiency in limited run. Notably, May's closing five swapped in reserves Morez Johnson Jr. and Naji Marshall alongside Flagg, Irving and Washington -- both bench players finished plus-3, the best plus-minus marks on the roster. Dallas closes the preseason at 1-2 and now turns to October 21 at Houston, which doubles as the regular-season opener five days from this loss.
What was the final score of Mavericks vs. Hawks on October 16?
Atlanta won 111-135, Dallas's largest margin of defeat this preseason.
When do the Mavericks play next?
Dallas visits Houston on October 21, the same game that opens the regular season, five days after the Hawks loss.
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