The Dallas Mavericks experienced a setback Tuesday night with a 110-100 defeat against the Boston Celtics, marking their longest losing streak of the season. While Dallas struggled, rookie Cooper Flagg delivered an impressive performance, scoring 36 points with nine rebounds and six assists in a nationally televised game against his favorite childhood team.
This matchup, a prime-time rematch of the 2024 NBA Finals, also served as a crucial moment for the Mavericks to demonstrate their strengths ahead of the approaching trade deadline on Thursday at 3 p.m. However, Dallas fell short, slipping to five consecutive losses while Boston, despite being shorthanded, managed to capitalize and maintain momentum.
Impactful Performances on Both Sides Amid Trade Deadline Buzz
The Celtics had added frontcourt depth hours before tipoff by acquiring Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Anfernee Simons, a move reported by ESPN. Boston’s Jaylen Brown continued to display All-Star caliber form, contributing 33 points and 11 rebounds, while Payton Pritchard provided a valuable 26 points and seven assists off the bench.
Despite the loss, some Mavericks players demonstrated valuable contributions. Daniel Gafford, working through a persistent right ankle sprain, recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. The Mavericks had reportedly identified Gafford as a potential trade target, adding weight to his performance.
Caleb Martin, substituting for PJ Washington in the starting lineup, also showed promise with 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists, marking his fourth game since January with double-digit scoring.
Flagg’s Rookie Performance Makes Historic Strides
Cooper Flagg continued to justify his status as a rising star by securing his third consecutive Rookie of the Month honor, highlighted by his third straight game exceeding 30 points. This achievement makes him the first teenager in NBA history to accomplish such a feat. Over these last three games, Flagg has averaged 39.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Flagg’s efficiency has been noteworthy, shooting 57.7% from the field, 46.2% beyond the arc, and an 85.2% free-throw percentage. Speaking on his mindset, Flagg said,
“I’m just proud of myself for staying confident, staying poised, I never doubted myself … I just let all of that pass. I might’ve fallen down a bit, but I just got back up stronger.”
—Cooper Flagg, Rookie
Though Flagg narrowly missed achieving his first career triple-double by one rebound and four assists, the Mavericks’ offensive struggles contributed to this near miss.
Three-Point Shooting Woes and Trade Deadline Uncertainty
The Mavericks’ challenges from behind the arc continued, as the team converted only nine of 32 three-point attempts. Four players with potential trade value—Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson, and Jaden Hardy—combined for five successes on 19 attempts, illustrating the shooting struggles that contributed to the loss.
Coach Jason Kidd acknowledged these difficulties and opted to rest key starters with under three minutes remaining, conceding the outcome to Boston. Before the game, Kidd addressed the tension surrounding the trade deadline and the reality of NBA business.
“That’s in the small print of the contract,”
Kidd said.
“Sometimes we don’t look at that or read that, but that’s just being a pro… There was a trade in the (Celtics) locker room. You have to do your job. The guys in that locker room, they play hard. They play for each other.”
—Jason Kidd, Mavericks Head Coach
Tuesday saw at least four trades completed throughout the league, including a high-profile deal between Memphis and Utah sending Jaren Jackson Jr. to Salt Lake City. Despite their current 12th place position in the Western Conference, the Mavericks have not yet made a trade, though changes remain possible.
Kidd further reflected on the professionalism required amid these circumstances:
“Those guys in that locker room are professionals that understand you could be traded after the game, before the game or during the game. We’ve seen it all.”
—Jason Kidd, Mavericks Head Coach
Team Atmosphere and Future Outlook
Naji Marshall, who ended the game with nine points, eight rebounds, and three assists, expressed a desire to remain with the Mavericks and continue playing alongside Flagg for years to come, a sentiment acknowledged by Kidd before tipoff. Yet Kidd noted the business realities:
“You see Naji has come out to say he loves playing for the Mavs, but he could be traded, right? And that’s just the nature of the business. Sometimes it gets in the way.”
With the trade deadline imminent, the Mavericks’ roster could look notably different when they return to the American Airlines Center for their next matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. The organization faces the challenge of balancing player development, trade negotiations, and a push to reverse their recent losing trend.
Cooper Flagg making it look easy😮💨
(via @dallasmavs | #MFFL)pic.twitter.com/vOD0zf2M7F
— SportsDay Mavs (@dmn_mavericks) February 4, 2026
