Atlanta Hawks defeat Dallas Mavericks 135-111 in preseason finale

The Atlanta Hawks secured a decisive 135-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in their preseason finale at the American Airlines Center, according to reporting from the Dallas Hoops Journal. The result closed the Mavericks' preseason schedule with a 1-3 record just days before opening the regular season, while the Hawks finished their preseason slate at 4-1 in front of 19,178 fans. The matchup highlighted ongoing adjustments for Dallas under its first-year head coach, Dusty May, who arrived from Michigan.

Atlanta took the lead for good with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter when Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit a 3-pointer following a tying floater from Morez Johnson Jr. The Hawks expanded their advantage to 22 points in the second quarter, carrying a 73-54 lead into halftime and leading by as many as 29 points in the fourth. Atlanta outrebounded Dallas 55-42, pulled down 17 offensive rebounds, and scored 19 fast-break points compared to six for the Mavericks. The visitors also converted 34 of 45 free-throw attempts and connected on 21 of 51 shots from beyond the arc.

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Dallas countered by outscoring Atlanta 50-38 in the paint and 26-18 in second-chance points, finishing with 30 assists on 40 made field goals. Cooper Flagg anchored the Mavericks with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in 29:48, shooting 8-of-20 from the floor and 8-of-9 at the line. Kyrie Irving contributed 18 points and five assists in 24:36, shooting 6-of-12 overall and 5-of-7 from 3-point range before sitting out the fourth quarter. Irving made his return to action earlier in the month following a torn ACL in his left knee sustained in March 2025.

Zaccharie Risacher delivered an energetic performance against the franchise that selected him first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft before trading him to Dallas in July in a three-team deal involving the Oklahoma City Thunder. After going scoreless or managing four points in the first half while being a minus-23, Risacher scored all 18 of his points after halftime on 6-of-6 shooting, adding five rebounds and four assists in 26:34. Mavericks coach Dusty May praised the forward's aggression in the paint and second-half surge, noting his integration into the rotation.

"Zach showed what we need him to be. I thought his energy, his effort. He made a couple of really nice cuts to the basket. I thought he was on the glass. He settled into the game,"

Dusty May, Mavericks Coach, via Dallas Hoops Journal

The Mavericks played without several key contributors due to injuries, including Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic, Max Christie, Jett Howard, and Dereck Lively II. May emphasized that his squad must correct fundamental issues before their next competitive outing.

"Give Atlanta credit. I thought their point of attack defense, their disruptions, they were tough tonight. They played inspired. They look like a playoff team that’s capable of advancing and guys that have played together,"

Dusty May, Mavericks Coach, via Dallas Hoops Journal

Further analysis from the Dallas Hoops Journal detailed play-type tracking data from the contest. Atlanta scored 1.107 points per possession across 122 plays, while Dallas scored 0.925 on 120 plays. The Hawks ran 33 of those plays in transition and scored 1.000 points per possession on them, whereas the Mavericks scored 0.579 on 19 transition plays. Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 25 points, and Jalen Johnson added 20 points and 14 rebounds.

May pointed out specific tactical hurdles his team encountered, noting that Irving and Flagg had to fight intensely for every catch. The Mavericks head coach stressed the necessity of alleviating offensive pressure so other squad members can contribute effectively. Additionally, the team must address defensive rebounding lapses and turnovers before tipping off the regular season.

What to Watch Next

• Dallas opens its regular-season schedule against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.
• The Mavericks will continue evaluating rotation pieces, including the starting status of Zaccharie Risacher and the conditioning of returning players like Morez Johnson Jr.
• Coaching staff adjustments regarding defensive rebounding and offensive pressure relief will be tested as regular-season competition begins.