Three overreactions as Mavericks fall flat in Mexico City vs. Pistons

The Dallas Mavericks were away from home for the first time this season, as they faced off against the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City on Saturday night. Dallas was without its two biggest stars in Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, as well as starting center Dereck Lively II. However, Daniel Gafford made his season debut after missing the start with an ankle injury.

This was a strange game, as each team held at least a 9-point lead in the second quarter alone, and two of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA both had strong shooting nights. D'Angelo Russell started poorly but went on a heater in the second half to lift the Mavs' offense, Cade Cunningham struggled to score but was lethal passing (18 assists, just one turnover), and Jalen Duren absolutely dominated the paint to the tune of a career-high 33 points.

Dallas then only had eight turnovers in the first three quarters, but then coughed it up 7 times in the fourth, which helped the Pistons take off near the end of the game, and Detroit would go on to win 122-110. The game felt closer than the final score would indicate, but it's a loss nonetheless for the Mavs, and they now sit 2-4.

Here are three overreactions from Saturday's loss.

1. D'Angelo Russell is a Confusing Basketball Player

Oct 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell (5) brings the ball up court in the second half of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

D'Angelo Russell is either the best bad player of all time or the worst good player ever, and I cannot figure out which it is. Some of the shots in his diet are wild and out of place, but then he'll have a game like this where he has 31 points while making 7 threes.

He clearly doesn't have the same burst off the dribble that he used to have, and he's, at best, an average guard in today's NBA. And yet, the offense looks completely lost without his playmaking. It's a weird conundrum to be in for the Mavs.

2. They Have to Find a Better Way to Use Cooper Flagg

Oct 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) looks on during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Cooper Flagg just doesn't fit in the current setup of the offense. He struggled again in this loss to score, finishing with 16 points (eight came at the free-throw line) on just 3/14 shooting. He did make two three-pointers, but it's still far from clean for him.

Jason Kidd has yet to really utilize the things that made Cooper Flagg as highly touted a prospect as he was. He's a secondary playmaker, best used in the short-roll and on back cuts. We're not seeing any of that so far.

3. The Offense Looked Better Without Anthony Davis

Oct 24, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) reacts after a dunk during the second half against the Washington Wizards at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

It still wasn't a great offensive product, but the overall performance looked a little cleaner, but that could've also just been D'Angelo Russell shooting out of his mind.

The Mavericks made 16 three-pointers in this game, which is easily the most they've made in a game this season. It's 2025; shooting matters in the NBA, and the Mavericks seemed to have forgotten that in the early portion of the season because Anthony Davis is hellbent on playing power forward. With him being out due to a calf strain, maybe we will see some better offensive flow in the next few games.

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