The Dallas Mavericks met the Philadelphia 76ers on February 4, 2025, at the Wells Fargo Center, where both teams dealt with injuries and recent trades. The Mavericks entered the game without key players such as Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II, who were sidelined alongside others like Dwight Powell and PJ Washington. The 76ers, too, were missing important contributors, including Paul George and Kyle Lowry, which set the stage for what would turn out to be a thrilling battle on the hardwood.
The Mavericks started the game with Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, Klay Thompson, Kessler Edwards, and Daniel Gafford on the court, whereas the 76ers countered with Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., Justin Edwards, Guerschon Yabusele, and Joel Embiid. Right off the bat, Exum made his mark, scoring six of the Mavericks’ first eight points. Nonetheless, the team found themselves trailing with the 76ers establishing early momentum behind Embiid, who netted seven points rapidly. By the end of the first quarter, the 76ers were up 36-31, with Maxey contributing 11 of those points, proving to be influential for Philadelphia.
Dallas regrouped at the start of the second quarter, launching an impressive 12-2 run. Max Christie, who was making his debut for the Mavericks, hit some key shots, including his second three-pointer of the game. This run allowed Dallas to take the lead and stretch it to as much as seven points at one point, bolstered by Irving’s offensive efforts. Yet the 76ers wouldn’t back down; Embiid led Philadelphia's charge, rallying six points, followed closely by another five from Maxey, resulting in the game being tied just before halftime. Dallas, capitalizing on their free throw opportunities, managed to close out the half with momentum. A buzzer-beater by Naji Marshall gave them the advantage at 65-58.
Coming out of the halftime break, Dallas capitalized on their lead early, showing resilience, especially with Irving hitting notable free throws and pushing the edge to eight points. Despite their solid start to the second half, the fortunes soon shifted. The 76ers orchestrated a 21-6 run, with key contributions from Maxey and Justin Edwards, allowing Philadelphia to regain control with a 94-87 lead heading to the final quarter.
Irving's persistent effort saw the Mavericks keep close, narrowing the lead back to one point early on. Yet, once again, Maxey delivered, quickly amassing points to push the Sixers’ lead back to eight. Fans braced themselves for what felt like the typical back-and-forth rhythm of NBA games, with Dallas striving to pull even. Finally, at 4:25 remaining, the Mavericks sparked their own 12-2 run, achieving 109-107, marking the seventh lead change within the last three minutes of play. The tension escalated as the clock wound down, culminating with Marshall’s putback dunk giving Dallas yet another lead at 116-115 with just over a minute left.
Embiid's poised response immediately quieted the Mavericks' momentum, putting the 76ers back on top with only 22 seconds remaining. Craving victory, Dallas pushed for one last offensive strategy but fell short when Naji Marshall’s attempt at the basket couldn’t convert. With Embiid splitting his free throws with just five seconds on the clock, Dallas had one last chance, but their attempted rally fizzled out as Exum’s pass slipped away, sealing the game at 118-116 for Philadelphia.
This match offered equal opportunities for both teams as they finished with similar three-point shooting stats, with both shooting 11-of-33 from beyond the arc. Surprisingly, the Mavericks dominated the rebounding battle and went to the free throw line significantly more often. Yet the 76ers excelled with their ball movement, posting 37 assists on 47 baskets against the Mavericks’ 24 assists on 40 baskets made. Kyrie Irving topped the scoring chart for Dallas, pouring in 34 points alongside 9 rebounds, with Naji Marshall contributing 19 points and Max Christie making his debut notable with 15 points. For the 76ers, Tyrese Maxey led with 33 points and 13 assists, with Joel Embiid closely following by securing 29 points and completing his triple-double with 10 assists and 11 boards.
Now, as the Mavericks prepare to conclude their road trip with the next match-up against the Boston Celtics, fans are left reflecting on this eventful game. It showcased not only the tenacity of both teams but also underscored the ever-changing dynamics within the league as trades and injuries continue to shape the season.