The Mavericks’ defense showed alarming cracks throughout the game, especially when it came to rotations. The Hornets capitalized on these lapses, repeatedly finding open shooters and exploiting mismatches in transition. Dallas struggled to close gaps quickly, leading to several high-percentage looks for Charlotte. The Hornets’ ball movement was crisp, forcing the Mavericks into leaving their man briefly unguarded – and that brief moment was all it took for Charlotte to strike. The result was a series of momentum-shifting baskets that kept Dallas on its heels for much of the evening.

Key defensive struggles included:

  • Slow closeouts on perimeter shooters, allowing multiple open three-point attempts
  • Confusion in help-side rotations, causing breakdowns in coverage near the basket
  • Lack of communication on switches, leading to mismatches exploited by Hornets’ guards
Defensive MetricMavericksHornets
Opp FG % in Paint56%48%
Opp 3P FG %42%34%
Defensive Rotations Score5/108/10