The Dallas Mavericks returned to the American Airlines Center after their four-game road trip to face the Brooklyn Nets twice in a week. Dallas got the better of Brooklyn earlier, handing them a 120-101 defeat in their own backyard. So, they headed into this game motivated to emulate their recent performances and further strengthen their grip on a play-in position. However, Keon Johnson and Co. had other plans. The 23-year-old Nets guard finished the game with 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, ensuring a hard-fought 113-109 win for Brooklyn. So, what went wrong for the Mavs?
Before the game, the Mavericks were injected with energy following the return of Anthony Davis from injury. Moreover, their form suggested that this should have been an easy win. Despite a solid start, their dreams were shattered by a terrible second-half performance. At half time, Anthony Davis and Co. led the game 63-58. However, a poor defensive performance in the remaining ultimately cost them the game. AD was disappointed by the four-point defeat and felt this was a game his team should’ve closed out. “Definitely a tough loss. A wonderful game for us. A game we should have won, but hats off to [the Nets]. They shot the ball really, really well.” Davis said.
He then pointed out a major issue Dallas faced during the game that they couldn’t solve. “[They] made 20 [threes]. We just gotta do a better job on the defensive end. Also, offensively, especially late in the game.” The Mavericks’ superstar emphasized. Sure enough, AD made the right observation. The Nets thrived from beyond the arc, knocking down a staggering 20 threes with a 39.2 shot percentage. D’Angelo Russell contributed massively to this elite three-point shooting. The Nets star scored 4-of-7 from the deep, scoring 18 points and even dishing out 11 assists. While the Nets were great and deserved to win, the Mavs’ defense was nowhere to be seen.
Mar 24, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) dribbles up court during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
Anthony Davis and the rest of the Dallas roster could not contain Brooklyn. This helped the visitors to make consistent attempts and score freely. Offensively, Dallas did put a commendable performance with all five starters contributing in double digits. But that wasn’t enough to get them through the finish line. Anthony Davis scored 12 points, along with seven rebounds and five assists. However, the one player who really shined for the Mavericks despite the setback was their returning center: Daniel Gafford. The 26-year-old made a return after a long absence and made a huge confession about the time he spent on the sidelines.
Daniel Gafford makes a huge confession after a successful return on the court
It was a crucial night for the Dallas Mavericks, who continue their hunt for postseason basketball. However, it was a special occasion for their big man, Daniel Gafford, as the 26-year-old made a strong return to the hardwood. Gafford had been struggling with an unfortunate knee injury and played his last matchup on February 10th against Sacramento. Many people expected the Dallas center to be a bit rusty upon his return after a long hiatus. It didn’t take him long to get back in his groove. “Honestly, you know, of course, it’s just me getting back into the flow of the game. You know, it was kind of like a bunch of mess-ups for me early on. But throughout the course of the game, it just started to feel kind of natural again.” Gafford stated after the loss.
He did feel natural again, as he scored 17 points on his return, a team-high on the night. Moreover, Gafford added 7 rebounds and two assists to his solid comeback performance. However, the time he spent off the court was not the easiest. Gafford admitted that he missed hooping and was motivated to return to the hardwood. “I mean, it was really important to me, you know. I got a big heart for the game. Every day when I was out, you know, it was just like, just get better.” Gafford said. There were times when he felt disheartened and demotivated. However, Gafford’s wife and close ones helped him out through that tough phase.
“Even, you know, the surgery that she just went through, you know, she was always in my ear just trying to get me out of the dark spot, you know.” It was because of his wife’s support and his will that Gafford made a remarkable comeback to the court. “I was just focusing on, just trying to stay positive, you know. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not, you know, the end of my career or anything like that. It just takes time. So I just had to be patient,” he added. Well, his patience paid off as he’s back just in time to help is time out during a crucial stretch of games that could make or break their season. Daniel Gafford and the rest of the Mavericks’ roster will now look to bounce back from this defeat as they host the Hawks next.
The post Anthony Davis Confesses Major Issues With Mavs Before Play-In as Daniel Gafford Makes Emotional Injury Confession appeared first on EssentiallySports.