‘Nothing To Worry About’: Cooper Flagg, Dusty May Back Zaccharie Risacher After 2-of-13 Night In Dallas Mavericks’ Win Over Miami Heat

MIAMI — Zaccharie Risacher shot 2-of-13 from the field Monday night in the Dallas Mavericks’ 113-109 win over the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. He also finished with 6 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, and 1 steal, and Dallas outscored Miami by 9 points in his minutes.

Risacher’s 3 blocks included one on Giannis Antetokounmpo with 5:05 left in a 101-97 game. Cooper Flagg said Risacher and P.J. Washington bring physicality every night without needing to put the ball in the basket.

“That’s what I’m telling Zacch. I think obviously nobody’s happy missing shots and stuff like that. But he makes us 15, 20 points better when he’s being active and getting steals and playing his defense,” Flagg said. “So I have no doubt that his shots are gonna start to fall and there’s nothing to worry about there. So with him contributing like he has been, it makes it so much better.”

Risacher was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Dallas acquired him July 19 in a three-team trade with Atlanta and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he made his Mavericks debut Oct. 21 with 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals in a loss at the Houston Rockets.

Dusty May Wants Zaccharie Risacher To Keep Shooting

Entering Monday, Risacher was averaging 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 18.2% from 3-point range. Mavericks coach Dusty May said he wants Risacher to keep shooting when he is open.

“Zacch is finding himself now, he’s still so young. We really, really value and appreciate those plays,” May said. “However many missed shots he had, he had twice as many loose balls and blocks and steals and rebounds and the ones that don’t show up where he just gets a hand on it, where it’s maybe coming to Bam or Giannis, and he just gets a fingertip and then our guards dig it out. There’s no stat for that, but those are valued in our program and within our team.”

“But just to see how connected our group is, to see how they’re all so much for each other is fun,” May continued.

Risacher’s two field goals were a floater with 1:12 left in the third quarter and a 3-pointer off a Kyrie Irving assist that pulled Dallas within 90-89 with 9:11 left. He went 1-of-6 from 3-point range and 1-of-2 at the free-throw line.

“Absolutely, and that’s something that over the course of my career, I’ve probably been a little bit loose with shot selection where some coaches, how well you shoot it, you earn the shots,” May explained. “And with us, if you’re playing the right way and the ball finds you, we trust you based on your work in practice, and also the developmental plan of taking the right shots. So like I said, I wanted Zacch to keep shooting when he’s open, and most importantly, his teammates did too. I heard a couple of them say, actually I heard Kyrie say, ‘He’s playing so hard, I want him to keep shooting it.’”

“It’s like, he’s playing so hard, we appreciate that so much that we’re never gonna tell him to stop shooting it. He made a big floater. He made a huge three. And he’s a good shooter,” May continued. “That’s the crazy part. He’s a very good shooter that’s just not making it now, but he’s finding so many other ways to impact the game. And it looks like he’s having fun even though it’s not his best.”

The Mavericks are putting a lot into Risacher’s development. Mavericks assistant and shooting coach Rob Fodor works with him often, including at shootarounds and on the practice court. Dallas hired Fodor in September after 20 years with the Heat, where he became the franchise’s first full-time shooting coach in 2016. Before Monday’s game, May said the Mavericks are not looking for a quick fix with their shooting.

“Well, he’s been around the NBA and this organization for a long time, so he’s brought a different perspective. And he’s been a valuable resource for our players and our staff. Shooting is not, we’re not sprinkling pixie dust,” May said before the game. “We’re trying to develop a shooting routine where we can help these guys unlock something in their games and then also to be ready when their time is there. So we believe over the course of time, our shooting, our shot-making ability is gonna continue to improve. But he, more than just shooting, he brings just a wisdom of the game of basketball and a different perspective, cuz he’s an artist, he’s a different thinker.”

In his opening statement, May singled out Risacher’s hustle plays. The Mavericks finished with 11 steals and 10 blocks.

Risacher On His Role And Dallas’ Defense

Risacher grabbed 6 of his 8 rebounds on the defensive end. He said he takes pride in making an impact on defense whether his shots fall or not.

“I feel like, like you said, it don’t matter if the offense going well. I know what I got to do to impact the game, be on the court and make those winning plays. And I feel like as long as I do that, the offense is going to take over itself,” Risacher said. “And yeah, coming to the game, I know where I can impact the game no matter what. No matter what happens offensively, if I make shots or not, I know defensively I gotta bring it up every night. I grab rebounds, got to steal, block. I got to do all those things to make sure I’m helping my team to get to the best position to win games. And I feel like that’s something I take pride of doing.”

Everybody on the roster has the same mindset whether Dallas is winning or losing, Risacher said. Dallas held Miami to 25 points in the fourth quarter.

“A lot. A lot, actually. I love it here. I love it here. My teammates are so supportive [of] what I’m doing on the court. And again, no matter what I’m doing, [they] always have my back, and that is great,” Risacher explained. “And like, I feel like everybody has the same mindset, too. Like, we keep pushing each other no matter what’s happening, losing, winning. Everybody’s here for each other. Everybody got their back. And I feel like it’s great to be able to play and compete with those guys.”

Dallas never trailed after Daniel Gafford’s putback put it ahead 97-96 with 6:12 left. Risacher blocked a driving layup with 5.5 seconds left, and he said a defender who gets beat knows two teammates are coming to help.

“I feel like it’s just a reflection of who we are as a team. Defensively, we’re dogs. Like I said, everybody has the back of each other. We make winning plays, we’re guarding as a team,” Risacher said. “If somebody gets beat, he knows two guys coming to help him. It’s just having that mindset to win as a team, play defense as a team, make winning plays as a team. It’s just great to be able to compete with those guys and be on the same page.”

Washington played 41 minutes and tied up Antetokounmpo for three jump balls. Risacher said he asks Washington questions and follows his example as a young player.

“P.J. is great. He’s a dog too. I feel like he’s a great leader. And as a young guy, you want to follow his lead, follow his example,” Risacher said. “And like you say, he’s great defensively, also offensively. But defensively, he’s going on a whole other level, and I feel like especially for me, be able to see him, be able to watch him make plays, winning plays, it’s great. But also, asking questions, he’s open, he’s really open-minded.”

Dallas (2-2) hosts the Thunder on Wednesday at American Airlines Center, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. CT.