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DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are 7-4 and have won three straight, a season after going 26-56 and finishing 12th in the Western Conference. P.J. Washington met with reporters after practice Wednesday, a day before Dallas opens a three-game road trip at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Washington has been with Dallas since a February 2024 trade with the Charlotte Hornets. Last season, he averaged 14.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in 56 games.
The Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison during the 2025-26 season. Kyrie Irving missed the entire season recovering from surgery on his left ACL. Dallas has since hired Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations, Mike Schmitz as general manager, and Dusty May as head coach.
“It’s been tough at times, but it comes with it,” Washington said. “It’s all part of the game, so for us, it’s just the same each and every day, just trying to control what you can control. Obviously, now, I think we’re in a good spot. The city’s supporting us in a major way, and we can feel it.”
Cooper Flagg won Rookie of the Year last season and leads Dallas with 25.9 points per game. Irving is averaging 22.9 points in nine games since returning.
“It feels great,” Washington explained. “Everybody’s smiling, everybody’s excited. There’s a lot of joy in the city right now, obviously. So for us, it’s just a big thing, and just keep pushing, one game at a time, and just try to stack a bunch.”
P.J. Washington On The American Airlines Center Crowd
Dallas is 5-2 at American Airlines Center. Through seven home games, the Mavericks have drawn 133,282 fans, the most in the NBA, according to Basketball Reference.
In Monday’s 125-122 win over the Indiana Pacers, Dallas trailed by as many as 13 points before rallying. Washington finished with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
“It just feels good, especially when the crowd’s into it … we feed off their energy, so just having them engaged and involved, that’s wonderful for us,” Washington said.
Dallas Mavericks Taking It One Game At A Time
Before the current three-game winning streak, Dallas lost to the Sacramento Kings at home on Nov. 2 and at the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 4 to fall to 4-4. The loss in San Antonio was by 1 point.
“I think it’s big, just taking one game at a time, because I think if you look at it in a broad perspective, it kind of gets overwhelming, to say the least,” Washington said. “So looking at it one game at a time, you kind of focus on the task at hand … So I think it’s been good for us, and I think everybody’s been locked in, and it’s easier for us to retain information.”
Tip-off Thursday in Minneapolis is set for 7 p.m. CT. Dallas then visits the Cleveland Cavaliers at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday and the Boston Celtics at 5 p.m. CT Sunday.
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