Hawks rout Mavericks 135-111 in Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks suffered a significant defeat at home on Friday, losing to the Atlanta Hawks 135-111 at the American Airlines Center. The visiting team dominated the contest from the opening tip, establishing a lead that they never relinquished. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the standout performer for Atlanta, finishing with 25 points, while Kingston Flemings dished out six assists and Jalen Johnson secured 14 rebounds.

For Dallas, Cooper Flagg provided the primary offensive spark with 26 points and 12 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving contributed five assists, but it was not enough to overcome the Hawks' efficiency.

Early Lead

The Hawks built a substantial cushion in the first half. They outscored Dallas 39-34 in the opening quarter, with Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson finding rhythm early. The gap widened significantly in the second period, as Atlanta outscored the Mavericks 34-20.

By the halftime break, the visitors led 73-54, having controlled the tempo and limiting Dallas to just 34 points in the first half. The Mavericks struggled to find consistent scoring outside of Flagg and Irving, while the Hawks’ ball movement facilitated multiple high-percentage shots.

Third Quarter Momentum

The third quarter saw the Hawks maintain their offensive pressure. Atlanta outscored Dallas 29-24 in this segment, extending their lead to 96-78 with a quarter to play. Alexander-Walker continued to attack the rim and create for teammates, while the Hawks’ defense forced several turnovers.

Dallas attempted to respond with three-point shooting from Flagg and Irving, but the Hawks’ length and rotation speed kept them at bay. The Mavericks managed to keep the game competitive in terms of margin, but the point differential was already insurmountable.

Final Stretch

The fourth quarter was largely ceremonial as the Hawks extended their lead to 33-33 in the final segment, securing the 135-111 victory. The Hawks’ depth provided a final push, with contributions from the bench helping to close out the game. The Mavericks finished with 111 points, but their 20-point second-quarter collapse proved decisive.

The attendance at the American Airlines Center was 19,178. The result improves Atlanta’s record to 4-1, while Dallas falls to 1-3 on the season.

Sources

ESPN