The Dallas Mavericks narrowly outlasted the Charlotte Hornets with a final score of 103-96 on February 27, 2025. This victory brought Dallas to 32 wins this season as they swept the season series against the beleaguered Hornets, who have suffered significant roster setbacks.
Dallas opened the game at the American Airlines Center with Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Moses Brown on the court. This lineup marked the Mavericks' 30th different starting combination of the season, evidencing their struggles with injuries and player rotations. Conversely, the Hornets started KJ Simpson, Nick Smith Jr., Josh Green, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams, with several key players out, including LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
The matchup began with Dallas attempting to establish dominance, leading as much as 11 points early on. The Mavericks capitalized on Charlotte's slow start, as Mark Williams quickly picked up two fouls, limiting his impact. Moses Brown scored the first two baskets for Dallas, followed by shooting from Klay Thompson and other players, establishing an 18-7 lead. Notably, Dallas' early performances, sparked by Brown's contributions, looked promising.
Despite the promising start, Charlotte rallied with tenacity. A seven-point run saw them cut the Mavericks’ lead to only four points. Kyrie Irving's scoring continued to be pivotal; he pushed Dallas back with key shots, but the Hornets remained aggressive. By quarter's end, Dallas led narrowly at 25-24.
The second quarter brought yet another shift, with the Hornets forging their own path with back-to-back three-pointers and taking the lead by as much as six. Dallas's offense spiraled, and some lackluster shooting characterized the team’s efforts. Nonetheless, Irving and Brown helped Dallas reclaim the lead, finishing the half at 50-49.
Irving’s drive was evident as he started the third quarter strong, allowing Dallas to edge back with their offense. Despite this, both teams struggled with scoring. Heading to the fourth quarter, Dallas held onto a 73-67 lead, propelled by Irving's efforts.
Entering the final frame, the Hornets tried to take control again, cutting the Mavericks' lead to just three. But Irving, dubbed the ‘Fourth Quarter Kai,’ responded with nine consecutive points, significantly impacting the game’s direction. Amidst the tension, the Hornets, led by Miles Bridges, kept fighting, forcing Dallas to dig deep. They tied the game at 83 midway through the fourth quarter.
With time running down, Irving once again showed his prowess—stealing the ball to set up Klay Thompson's key three-pointer. He extended the Dallas lead to six, and with Moses Brown’s dunk sealing the deal late, the Mavericks emerged victorious.
Kyrie Irving topped the scoring for Dallas with 25 points, alongside valuable contributions from Moses Brown, who recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds, marking his performance as significant for the team's success. Klay Thompson added 18 points, demonstrating his continued importance to the Mavericks' offensive structure. Other key players included Dante Exum, who chipped in 12 points and fought for multiple steals throughout the game.
For Charlotte, Mark Williams stood out with 26 points and 16 rebounds, highlighting his significant potential for the future, alongside Miles Bridges, who managed to score 20 points and grab 12 rebounds. Nick Smith Jr. also joined the double digits with scoring contributions.
Post-game comments highlighted Dallas's struggle, with their shooting percentages falling short—41.2% from the floor and 30.6% from the three-point line—underscoring the need for improvement moving forward. After bouncing back from recent losses, Mavericks coach commended the team's grit, emphasizing, 'A win is still a win, even if the performance wasn’t our best.'
The Mavericks look forward to their next challenge as they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. This matchup will be key for Dallas as they continue pushing for playoff positioning.