By Moselaunch 
The Dallas Mavericks’ Friday night game against the Phoenix Suns ended in disappointment, with the Mavs falling just short in a tight 114-113 loss. Right from the start, the team found themselves in a hole, trailing by 13 points at halftime. Despite an impressive second-half rally driven by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Dallas’s comeback efforts weren’t enough to secure the win.
This narrow loss has highlighted an ongoing issue plaguing the Mavericks this season: the lack of reliable bench support. Head coach Jason Kidd didn’t hold back after the game, expressing frustration with the team’s consistently slow starts and underwhelming performances from the bench. In a rare, heated post-game conference, Kidd criticized the backup unit, stating bluntly that the “bench stinks right now” and that the team desperately needs “someone to [expletive] participate off the bench.”
Kidd’s frustration is rooted in the fact that Doncic and Irving are left to shoulder nearly the entire offensive burden. While both stars put in outstanding efforts, playing 42 and 41 minutes respectively, it’s unsustainable for them to carry the team every night. The lack of scoring support was evident as Kidd rotated players like Kessler Edwards, Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes, and Jaden Hardy into the lineup, only to see minimal impact. The combined bench unit managed a disappointing nine points in total, a stark contrast to last season when Dallas’s bench ranked 11th in points per game.
The Mavericks’ early-season reliance on Doncic and Irving could take a toll if the rest of the team doesn’t step up soon. Injuries to key players have undoubtedly impacted Dallas’s depth, but the bench’s lack of contribution is putting too much pressure on the star duo. As the season progresses, Kidd needs more from his role players, who have to find ways to support the team’s leaders consistently. With a tough road game against Denver looming, Dallas must address these bench struggles before they become a larger issue.