Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd highlighted Max Christie’s aggressive play after Saturday’s 110-104 win over the Houston Rockets. “He was great… he wanted to be a little more aggressive, and you saw that tonight. Not just from three, but because he was able to get to the rim,” Kidd said.
Kidd also praised Christie’s mutual contributions. “I thought he was great on both ends, attacking and defending for us tonight,” he added, noting Christie helped the team maintain the pace and create chances in transition.
Rookie Cooper Flagg faced foul trouble early but still impressed Kidd. “It’s not always going to be what you want…he got in big foul trouble, but I thought the maturity of being able to do other things for his teammates…finding them for threes or making plays for him and then rebounding the ball for us was big,” Kidd said.
Anthony Davis had another strong performance, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Kidd praised his veteran center, but noted there was room for improvement. “We had to do a better job of putting the ball in the post… but overall he was good offensively and defensively,” Kidd said.
The Mavericks adjusted their starting lineup to increase Daniel Gafford’s minutes, with Kidd emphasizing chemistry and team balance. “We want to look bigger… Cooper got in big trouble and they jumped on us right away, but I thought the group stayed together and we found a way to win,” he said.
Brandon Williams provided a spark off the bench and surpassed 1,000 career points. “He’s been great for us … his skill set is pretty high when you talk about his speed, playmaking and getting to the rim,” Kidd said, adding that Williams’ decision-making and pace benefited the team.
Rebounding was a major focus against Houston, who grabbed 17 offensive boards. “If you break even with this group, that’s a win… they’re one of the best at giving themselves second chances, and we still did our part through the fourth quarter,” Kidd said.
The Mavericks also emphasized quick execution. “Our pace was high… being able to secure that rebound and then run and finish was a big part of that, and we did that at a high level for 48 minutes,” Kidd said.
Christie’s confidence has grown under Klay Thompson’s leadership. “I think he took that advice and ran with it… I think we’ve all heard of Steph. It’s not about your last chance, it’s about what you think you’re going to do next,” Kidd said.
Dallas improves to 13-23 and begins a three-game road trip in Sacramento on Tuesday, while the Rockets fall to 21-11 and host the Suns on Monday.
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