Dallas have had a tough begin to the brand new season…
The ambiance contained in the American Airways Heart turned tense on Monday night time as chants of “Hearth Nico!” rang out from annoyed Dallas Mavericks followers throughout their 116-114 house loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
What started as an evening to rejoice rookie Cooper Flagg’s breakout efficiency shortly shifted right into a public outcry in opposition to the staff’s embattled normal supervisor, Nico Harrison.
The chants erupted halfway by way of the fourth quarter, when the Mavericks’ once-comfortable 13-point lead had dwindled to a single possession.
The requires Harrison’s dismissal, already acquainted at current house video games for the reason that controversial commerce that despatched Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, grew louder as the sport slipped away.
They first broke out throughout P.J. Washington’s journey to the free-throw line with simply over seven minutes left and echoed all through the sector on a number of Dallas possessions, together with within the last seconds when Washington missed a free throw that would have despatched the sport to extra time.
Group governor Patrick Dumont, attending his first house recreation since opening night time, watched the collapse from his courtside seat, exhibiting no seen response to the group’s chants.
At half-time, he was seen chatting amicably with a younger fan carrying a Lakers Doncic jersey, the identical fan who had publicly flipped him off in the course of the staff’s season opener.
Regardless of the off-court drama, there have been vivid spots for the Mavericks. No.1 general decide Cooper Flagg delivered his finest efficiency but, scoring a career-high 26 factors on 9-of-15 taking pictures whereas including 9 rebounds, 4 assists, two blocks, and a steal.
At simply 18 years and 324 days previous, Flagg tied LeBron James because the youngest participant in NBA historical past to attain greater than 25 factors in a recreation. His night time was highlighted by a fearless drive and end over Giannis Antetokounmpo within the last minute that briefly gave Dallas the lead.
However for all of Flagg’s promise, the stress surrounding the Mavericks’ entrance workplace continues to overshadow the staff’s growth.
A number of league sources imagine that it now seems to be a matter of “when, not if” Dumont decides to half methods with Harrison.
The Mavericks have now misplaced 5 of six video games with out Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the controversial Doncic commerce.
Davis, who has been nursing a calf pressure, was anticipated to return for Saturday’s street recreation in opposition to Washington, however the medical workers suggested in opposition to it out of warning.
The cautious method comes after an identical state of affairs final season, when Davis aggravated an harm upon returning too early, sidelining him for six weeks.