Mavericks Suffer Devastating Loss to Bucks

Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont could only watch helplessly from his usual courtside seat Monday as the franchise he and majority owner Miriam Adelson acquired nearly two years ago suffered another devastating loss in front of an emotional home crowd.

Monday night was the latest in what has been a tumultuous start for the Mavericks as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks dealt the home team a 116-114 loss at American Airlines Center.

Disgruntled fans saw a lead that was as high as 13 slowly dwindle away, resulting in “Fire Nico” chants while P.J. Washington was at the free-throw line midway through the fourth quarter. The jeers returned several times during the game’s waning minutes.

The Game’s Turning Point

The Mavericks were in the driver’s seat for one possession following Cooper Flagg’s clutch layup over NBA scoring leader Giannis Antetokounmpo with 28.7 seconds left. However, Bucks guard Ryan Rollins countered with a layup on the other end before the most pivotal play of the game occurred.

Washington threw an inbound pass that was intercepted by Kyle Kuzma despite apparent contact with Flagg, leading to an open dunk for the Bucks forward. With the Mavericks down by three, Washington had a chance to tie the game after he was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Antetokounmpo with 1.2 seconds left.

The Mavericks forward sank the first freebie, but missed the second, forcing an intentional miss on the third free throw. Dallas was unable to corral the rebound, leading to its fifth home loss of the season.

Coach Kidd’s Reaction

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd declined to go into detail about his interpretation about Washington’s inbound pass that led to Kuzma’s transition score.

“It was a turnover,” Kidd said before elaborating further. “I’m not getting fined. It wasn’t called. We gotta play through it.”

The Stakes Were High

The stakes for Monday’s game felt high since the Mavericks entered the contest with a dismal 2-4 record at home and an influx in concerns surrounding Nico Harrison’s job security as general manager.

Kidd made another notable change to his starting lineup by inserting point guard Brandon Williams into the first unit instead of D’Angelo Russell, who had the job for the team’s last three games. The change provided a spark to the Mavericks’ second-to-last ranking offense entering the game.

Flagg’s Impressive Performance

While Williams provided stability on the offensive end, the Mavericks’ home crowd was revitalized by an impressive game from Flagg, who had a career-high 26 points with nine rebounds, two steals and one block.

Flagg played with a wrap on his right thumb after his hand collided with the rim on a dunk attempt in Saturday’s win at Washington, but the bandage didn’t appear to affect his assertiveness.

The Mavericks rookie was efficient from the field, making 9-of-15 from the floor. He missed four of his five attempts from the arc, but he accepted the challenge of going head-to-head against Antetokounmpo, who he’s drawn comparisons to during the early stages of his NBA career. Flagg said he sprained his right thumb, but didn’t appear concerned about the injury.

Flagg’s Mindset

“It’s doing OK,” Flagg said after the game. “I was able to play through it. Maybe I’ll tape my thumb every game. Obviously a little painful, but nothing crazy.”

Flagg’s first matchup with Antetokounmpo was one he embraced, especially with the game hanging in the balance as he absorbed contact from the two-time MVP and finished that go-ahead layup. The rookie recalled what crossed his mind when he saw Antetokounmpo waiting inside the paint.

“I want to dunk on him,” said Flagg, who’s had two notable posterizing dunks this season. ”It just wasn’t gonna happen. He’s a huge dude. Really physical. Really strong. Just made a read and challenged him at the rim.”

Antetokounmpo’s Performance

Antetokounmpo entered Monday’s game as the league’s leading scorer with an average of 33.8 points and struggled early, but finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Kuzma matched Flagg’s 26 points off the bench for Milwaukee.

Dumont’s Conversation

Dumont cheered his team on throughout the game from the bench, but shortly after halftime he entertained a conversation for several minutes with a fan wearing a gold Los Angeles Lakers jersey bearing Luka Doncic’s No. 77. The odd sight produced speculation about the origin of the chat, but didn’t outshine what became an exhilarating finish to yet another Mavericks loss.

I would love to know what this conversation is about. I noticed the fan sitting a few rows behind Mavs governor Patrick Dumont when the 3rd quarter began. pic.twitter.com/UvZU2MRuTk

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) November 11, 2025

Harrison’s Future

Harrison watched yet another defeat from his new seating location, three rows above the team’s broadcast booth. As the fans’ displeasure grows louder, evident by their fourth-quarter chants, so do the questions surrounding how much longer he’ll be able to remain in that seat.

On Twitter/X: @MikeACurtis2

Photos from the Game

High five! See photos from Cooper Flagg’s best performance yet in the Mavericks’ loss to the Bucks