‘Defense Was Nonexistent’: Mavericks’ Struggles Continue vs. Heat

Another day, another loss in a failed defensive performance for the Mavericks on the road in Miami on Sunday.

Miami Beach is beautiful this time of year, but not when you’re handed an “L” on your way out of town.

The Dallas Mavericks suffered their second straight loss and fifth in the last six games on Saturday night against the Miami Heat, 129-122. 

For Dallas, scoring is never the issue, especially when you have an explosive duo like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but when it comes to getting stops on the defensive end of the floor, the Mavs look like chickens with their heads cut off. 

On Saturday, Dallas gave up 44 first quarter points to Miami, immediately placing them in a 13-point hole heading into the second quarter. And though they rallied, cutting Miami's lead to just five with only two minutes remaining, it wasn't enough to leave South Beach with a win. 

"We kind of stalled out at 31 (points) but they kept going so yes, our defense was nonexistent," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said of the first quarter following the loss. "We couldn't get stops."

Kidd said he saw glimpses of good defense to start each half but overall, the Mavs 'weren't connected' enough to get the stops needed to complete their comeback.

"We shoot 61 percent so it wasn't the offensive side of the ball, it was the defensive side," Kidd said.

Doncic shared the same sentiment as his coach on their lackluster defense being the reason for not just tonight's loss, but their recent slump that has Dallas on the outside looking in of the play-in. 

"Every time it's the same problem," Doncic said. "...You gotta play defense for 48 minutes. That's how you win games. Always the championship teams play great defense so we got to get there."

When asked if he's worried about the team's interior defense following a 124-121 loss to Minnesota on Feb. 13, Kidd said "We're here to outscore people."

Well, how's that game plan working out, coach?

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