Dallas’ Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson under the spotlight after honest remarks from coach Jason Kidd

This Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 120-118 at the American Airlines Center, thanks to strong performances from Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson. After the game, the head coach Jason Kidd reflected on the impact these players have on the team.

“It can become seamless when you have a skill set like AD’s ability to dribble and DHO, play-make,” Kidd said during the post-game press conference, as shared by reporter Joey Mistretta on his X account. “Also Klay being able to run off screens off of AD or vice versa.”

Kidd elaborated on Thompson‘s contribution, who scored 17 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists in 29 minutes on the court. “Klay made a big three… He didn’t hesitate,” Kidd said. “I thought Klay was great, being able to run him off screens. Try to get to know each other running a different offense.”

Anthony Davis shines with the Mavericks

In addition to Thompson’s solid performance, the Mavericks had AD as their key weapon to defeat the Hawks. Davis led Dallas with an impressive 34 points and 15 rebounds in 30 minutes, showing the huge impact he can have despite the skepticism his trade for Luka Doncic generated among fans.

Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after scoring during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center on February 12, 2025.

This marked the first game Anthony Davis played alongside Dereck Lively II, after the center recovered from a right ankle fracture that had kept him sidelined since mid-January.

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Jason Kidd also reflected on the team’s dynamic with these players on the court, which has altered the Mavericks’ style of play. “As much as we want to play fast, we also can’t leave the big guys behind, so we gotta make sure that they touch the ball,” the coach said. “I thought in the first half, we were taking quick shots in transition instead of just taking the best shot, and that’s sometimes turning one down to get another one, especially when you have D-Live and AD out there running.”

Dallas solidifies its position in the West

Despite enduring a challenging 2024-25 NBA season, marked by the departure of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving’s serious injury, the Dallas Mavericks have managed to stay afloat and are entering the final stretch of the regular season in a better position than expected.

With just five games remaining, the Mavericks are close to securing a spot in the play-in tournament. They currently occupy the ninth spot in the Western Conference with a 38-39 record. Behind them are the Sacramento Kings (36-40), who are also in play-in range. The Phoenix Suns are the biggest threat, as they are currently out of postseason contention with a 35-41 record.