Kyrie Irving has maintained a steady presence around the Mavericks despite not playing this season because of his torn left ACL, but his team has missed his offensive production, especially in late-game situations.
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The same can be said for Monday's game against the Golden State Warriors, a primetime matchup that required overtime to decide a winner.
Cooper Flagg scored nine of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks fell short in the additional five minutes and suffered a 137-131 loss, their 12th consecutive defeat at American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks can't claim the title of first in most statistical categories, but they've competed in 41 clutch games, the most in the NBA.
There hasn't been much success tied to those specific contests - defined as a game within five points during the final five minutes of regulation - with a record of 15-26 after Monday's loss.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who celebrated his birthday Monday alongside Irving, knows they would've had a better chance of winning those close games if their nine-time All-Star was healthy.
"You have a born closer," Kidd said, "who I'm not going to say is going to win all 40 games for you, but it puts you in a better seat. Having that option would definitely help us if we're going to talk about next season."
The Mavericks could've used Irving's expertise in Monday's loss to the Warriors, a game without two of the best shotmakers in the game, especially since Stephen Curry was sidelined with right patellofemoral pain.
Several hours before the pain of another loss, Irving and Kidd shared a laugh during Monday's shootaround at the team's practice facility. They were serenaded with the "Happy Birthday" song by the Mavericks' four rookies, led by Flagg and Ryan Nembhard.
Irving celebrated his 34th birthday, while Kidd turned 53. The Mavericks veteran will enter his 15th season in 2026-27. If he can return with any semblance of the All-NBA level he was at before his devastating injury, then the Mavericks will receive a significant boost.
Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 50 games last season, with shooting percentages close to a 50/40/90 split. His absence has played a key role in the Mavericks' dismal 28th-ranked offense.
"That's impossible to cover up, even by committee, just because of the things he can do at the highest level," Kidd said. "For him to be healthy next year and talk about offense, hopefully that puts us in a better seat."
Without Irving, the Mavericks have relied on Flagg to shoulder the load on offense. They did so once more on Monday and the 19-year-old rookie led with 32 points, three rebounds and six assists on 10 of 16 shooting from the field. Flagg nailed a clutch 3-pointer with 3:39 left to bring Dallas within five and followed with a floater 35 seconds later.
Flagg was aggressive during the fourth quarter with his own shot, but chose to pass the ball in two crucial situations, a sign of his willingness to make the right play. He found Max Christie in the corner for a triple to tie the game with 1:16 left in regulation.
On the Mavericks' final possession of the fourth quarter, Flagg passed the ball to an open Naji Marshall, who missed a 3-pointer that would've likely been the game-winner had it not rimmed out with two seconds left.
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