Mavs Take The Loss Against Charlotte Hornets, PJ Washington A Standout
Despite Doncic's and Wood's Combined 52 Points, Team's Poor Shooting Proves Too Much to Overcome
Dallas Mavericks Fall to 12-13 on the Season Following 107-104 Hornet Victory
The Dallas Mavericks were unable to overcome a poor shooting night against the Charlotte Hornets, falling 107-104 Wednesday night. Despite strong performances from Luka Doncic and Christian Wood, the Mavericks shot a dismal 39.2% from the field and 23.8% from three-point range, which ultimately proved to be too much to overcome.
Doncic led the Mavericks with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Wood added 24 points and 9 rebounds. However, the rest of the team struggled to find their rhythm, with Spencer Dinwiddie shooting just 1-for-9 from the field and Jaden Hardy going 0-for-5. PJ Washington led the Hornets with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
The Mavericks had difficulty generating any consistency offensively, going 1-for-13 from three-point range in the first quarter and 4-for-17 in the second. They were able to close the gap in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to just four points heading into the final frame, but a late surge by the Hornets put the game out of reach.
The loss drops the Mavericks to 12-13 on the season and 5-7 at home. They will have a chance to rebound on Friday when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.
## What Went Wrong For The Mavericks? There were several factors that contributed to the Mavericks' loss: * **Poor Shooting:** The Mavericks shot just 39.2% from the field and 23.8% from three-point range, which is well below their season averages. * **Turnovers:** The Mavericks committed 15 turnovers, which led to 18 points for the Hornets. * **Defensive Struggles:** The Hornets shot 49.5% from the field and made 12 three-pointers. The Mavericks had difficulty containing Washington, who scored 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting. ## Key Takeaways Here are some key takeaways from the Mavericks' loss: * **The Mavericks need to improve their shooting:** The Mavericks have been struggling to shoot the ball all season, and it cost them again on Wednesday night. They need to find ways to get more consistent from the field and from three-point range. * **The Mavericks need to take care of the ball:** The Mavericks' 15 turnovers led to 18 points for the Hornets. They need to do a better job of protecting the ball and limiting their turnovers. * **The Mavericks need to get more help for Doncic:** Doncic is one of the best players in the league, but he can't do it all on his own. The Mavericks need to get more production from their supporting cast, especially on the offensive end. ## Conclusion The Mavericks' loss to the Hornets was a disappointing one, but there are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this team. Doncic and Wood are a dynamic duo, and the Mavericks have a lot of young talent. If they can improve their shooting and take care of the ball, they have the potential to be a playoff team.