Is the Mavericks 0-2 Start a Cause for Concern?

The Mavericks opened the 2025-26 campaign with back-to-back losses, falling 125-92 to the Spurs in their season opener, and 117-107 loss against the Wizards two days later. Against San Antonio, a number of issues were a cause for concern: the Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama’s dominant return, imposed their will. Wemby dropped 40 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the blowout. Additionally, Dallas struggled with execution: foul trouble early, defensive breakdowns, and a lack of consistent effort. Subsequently, the team’s rotation and in-game management became a big issue quickly; their key big men picked up early fouls, and the team overall failed to adjust to defensive schemes. This caused the Mavericks to fall behind early and never recover. Offensively, Dallas looked disjointed and inconsistent. Defensively, they were simply unable to match San Antonio’s physicality and pace of play.

Going into their second game of the season, the Mavericks entered with questions about the backcourt and depth, especially given the absence of Kyrie Irving and some uncertainty at the guard position. With that being said, what are the key issues? Wembanyama’s performance vs. Dallas highlighted the Mavericks’ troubles defending elite big-man threats. When you allow 40 and 15 from a single player, it signals structural issues. Dallas’s rim protection, rotations, and drop-defense appear vulnerable. Furthermore, early fouls for key players hampered the Mavericks' ability to stay competitive. This reduces flexibility in lineups and forces adjustments that can unsettle game plans. Even when scoring options exist, chemistry matters. With new pieces like their top draft selection, Cooper Flagg, and the veteran transfer, Anthony Davis, the offense hasn’t yet looked smooth. Blow-outs or lopsided losses often carry a psychological element: teams get rattled, adjustments lag, and the opponent gains confidence. After a rough opener, getting back into form quickly becomes more difficult.

Is it a cause for concern? Yes, to a degree, but it’s not a reason to panic yet. The 0-2 start is definitely a signal. For a team with playoff aspirations, dropping two to start, especially when one is a heavy loss, is not ideal. However, early-season slumps happen, roster turnover, new coaching emphasis, and integrating rookies and new pieces all take time. If the Mavericks shake out the kinks, there’s still plenty of time to recover. The magnitude of the first loss is significant. It suggests the issues may run deeper than just “we’re rusty,” the structural defensive, discipline issues may take longer to fix. Against a team like the Raptors, which is a roster mixed with veterans and rookies itself, Dallas should be prepared for a hard-fought fight.  If they cannot rebound and win their third game, it compounds the concern.

The Dallas Mavericks’ 0-2 start is worthy of concern, particularly after the kind of loss they took to the Spurs. The issues exposed, defensively, in discipline and depth, are real and meaningful. Yet, it’s not time to hit the alarm button. If they use this as a wake-up call, make corrections, and show improvement over the next handful of games, this can be an early-season stumble rather than the beginning of a decline. That said, time is of the essence. The Western Conference is tough, and the margin for error is slim. If the Mavericks don’t show signs of improvement soon, the 0-2 start may become a serious anchor.