Mavericks' Losing Streak Ends, But Power Rankings Drop
The Dallas Mavericks are celebrating after their victory over the Indiana Pacers, which snapped their 10-game losing streak. However, despite the win, NBA.com writer John Schuhmann moved the Mavs down a spot in the latest power rankings, placing them at No. 24.
Schuhmann noted that the team has been without Cooper Flagg for the last three games and that Kyrie Irving's return this season is now unlikely. The Mavs' win in Indiana on Sunday was their first in a 10-game losing streak, and they are now 9-8 in games played between the bottom eight teams in the league. They have three more games within that group this week.
The team is hoping for a strong second half from veteran forward Khris Middleton, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. Middleton's performance could be key to setting his teammates up for success down the stretch.
Despite their defensive improvements, the Mavs have slid from sixth to 14th in points allowed per 100 possessions since the start of the losing streak. The win in Indiana was an offensive breakthrough, as they scored more than 125 points per 100 possessions for just the seventh time this season. Before Sunday, they had scored just 102.5 points per 100 possessions in Middleton's 73 minutes on the floor.
Middleton's performance in Indiana was vintage, as he shot 5-for-5 from mid-range and scored a team-high 25 points with seven assists. He joins Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokić, and Middleton as the only players who've shot better than 50% on at least 500 mid-range attempts over the last five seasons.
The Mavericks are back in action tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, with the game scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT at the Barclays Center. Fans can watch the game on FanDuel Sports Network or stream it on NBA League Pass.
For more free coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2025-26 season, stay tuned to MavericksGameday.
