The Dallas Mavericks are desperate on the court
Missing talisman Luka Doncic and the enigmatic Kyrie Irving, the Dallas Mavericks faced a daunting task: conquering the ever-solid Houston Rockets on their home court. The early signs were ominous, as the Houston Rockets went on a quick 9-0 run to set the tone for a bad night for the visitors.
By the end of the first quarter, the Rockets held a commanding 23-17 lead, which they extended even further with a decisive 10-0 run in the second quarter, aided by three-pointers from Aaron Holliday and Alpern Sengen. The Mavericks trailed by 20 points (54-36) at halftime, their offense hampered by consecutive missed three-pointers.
In the third quarter, the Mavs were short-lived when Dallas went on a small 13-0 run with a couple of successful free throws, but in the end it was just a bright spot in the darkness. The Rockets quickly quelled this brief uprising, and by the final quarter, the game ended 89-60. The final score of 122-96 showed a lopsided victory for the Rockets and a third straight loss for the Cavaliers.
Without their two leading stars, the Cavaliers‘ firepower simply could not match the Rockets‘ intensity. Without Doncic’s offensive planning and Irving’s scoring ability, the rest of the Cavaliers have struggled to find their rhythm.
The recent loss is a worrisome sign for the Splash Brothers, who will need to find a way to weather the storm without their starters. Head coach Jason Kidd has a tough task ahead of him as the team needs to dig deep inside to rediscover their winning ways and avoid slipping further down the NBA standings.