Dusty May Credits Masai Ujiri After Dallas Mavericks Hand Houston Rockets First Loss

DALLAS — Mavericks president Masai Ujiri met coach Dusty May in the tunnel after the final buzzer of the Dallas Mavericks’ 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday night. May afterward credited the roster Ujiri’s front office put together.

May is in his first season as Dallas’ head coach after coaching Michigan. Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, Cooper Flagg added 33, and the Mavericks won their third straight game to improve to 4-2.

Dusty May Credits Masai Ujiri

The loss was Houston’s first of the season, and it came in the opening game of NBA Cup group play for both teams. Ujiri built the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 championship roster before taking over the Mavericks’ front office.

“Obviously, I have a ton of respect for Masai, and he’s been a great sounding board, and I probably asked him too many questions just as I learned, as myself and staff were trying to learn this organization and whatnot,” May said. “And so it was just a little joke that I made, but I’m just very, very appreciative of the team that the front office has put together. We’re deep. We’re young. We have great character more than anything else.”

Dallas played Friday without Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberović, Sergio De Larrea, and Dereck Lively II. Naji Marshall was available but sat as a coach’s decision after an illness.

May Says Dallas Won A Game In The Trenches

Houston grabbed 20 offensive rebounds, and Dallas countered with a 28-10 edge in fast-break points. The lead changed hands nine times. Daniel Gafford finished with 18 points and 2 blocks, P.J. Washington grabbed 10 rebounds, and Zaccharie Risacher had 3 steals off the bench. Caleb Martin played the entire fourth quarter in his second game back from a right thumb sprain.

“Well, we’re extremely excited to win a game that was in the trenches,” May said. “… I can’t imagine that there’s too many teams tougher than the Rockets. And I thought especially in the second half, when the shots are going in and you’re in a rhythm and things are going well, you can match the other team’s physicality and intensity, and when they aren’t going in, some teams just can’t do it.”

“I thought late, some guys that weren’t having their best game stepped up and grabbed big rebounds,” May continued. “Obviously, our two guys, man, they just made play after play. But so many other possessions jump out. Gafford’s blocks at the rim were huge. P.J.’s rebounds in traffic late. I think he had three in the last three minutes, and we needed all of them. Obviously, Zacch in the second half. Caleb Martin, back the last couple games from injury, has been showing what he is, a winning player, and so on to the next.”

The Mavericks host the Sacramento Kings on Monday at 7 p.m. CT. Their next NBA Cup game is Nov. 6 at home against the Utah Jazz.