The Dallas Mavericks (33-35, 10th in Western Conference) got absolutely smoked by the Houston Rockets on Friday night, losing 133-96. There are very little words to describe how things are around here, so here’s to hoping these numbers will suffice.
2: Hands Dante Exum has broken this year
To add even more injury to the already existing injury and insult, Dante Exum broke his left hand during this game, which will knock him out for the remainder of this season. This really stings for Exum, who is facing unrestricted free agency this summer after the Mavericks picked up his team option last summer. This is just another example of the Mavericks self-fulfilling prophecy coming to fruition. Exum has battled the injury bug for the entirety of his career, much like the majority of these Mavericks. You can’t be surprised when injury prone players get injured. Unfortunately for Exum and these Mavs, it’s happened yet again.
Mavericks have been ravaged: Kyrie Irving and Olivier-Maxence Prosper recently suffered season-ending injuries while return timelines of Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford are unclear. Now Exum, their starting point guard of late, is sidelined. https://t.co/UL78jx8DbM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 15, 2025
33: Rockets’ rebound differential
Dallas has been competitive using a whole lot of smoke and a variety of mirrors. That works against teams that aren’t using size to their advantage (think of the win over the Golden State Warriors in Dallas before the All Star Break). However, these Rockets are built in the image of Ime Udoka, which means this team is physical and willing to throw their weight around. Therefore, these Mavericks in particular would’ve needed a perfect game to stick around in this one. They did not get that game.
30.8: Max Christie’s field goal percentage since his return game to Los Angeles
Did the Lakers zap Max while he was wandering the halls of the building formerly known as the Staples Center? It was always a bit of an overreaction to say that Christie was going to be a starter quality player immediately upon arriving here. He’s since seen his outstanding play that had him starting in LA turn into playing so poorly he can’t start for these hospital Mavs. Oof.
14: Games left in the season
The Phoenix Suns better not make this number 15.
63: Games in the NCAA Tournament
Folks, that noise you hear is the sound of joy and day basketball for four consecutive days in March. The Madness is set to begin on the Men’s side on Tuesday with the play-in games, with Tournament beginning in full on Thursday. Our very own Jack Bonin wrote a fantastic piece previewing the Women’s tournament through the prism of the Dallas Wings which will get you ready for both tournaments. Don’t let this never ending disaster ruin your joy of hoops!