March 6, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) brings the ball up the court during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The Dallas Mavericks will visit the Toronto Raptors on Sunday to end their six-game losing streak.
The Mavericks’ slump goes beyond losing streak. They have dropped 16 of their last 18 games after losing 120-100 to the Boston Celtics on Friday.
The Raptors are also hoping to turn their recent streak around with this game. They have lost four of five since Thursday’s 115-107 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Mavericks won the only meeting of the season between the teams 139-129 on Oct. 26, with Cooper Flagg scoring 22 points. The team looked very different. Anthony Davis had 25 points and 10 rebounds in the game, while D’Angelo Russell added 24 points and six assists off the bench.
Dallas won its fourth straight win over Toronto.
After the loss to Minnesota, the Raptors are 4-17 against teams in the league’s top 10.
“When we play these good teams, something has to change,” said RJ Barrett, who led Toronto in scoring with 25 points Thursday. “Something has to change. I think they’re trying hard. I think they have good intentions. … This is what we have to figure out. This is the challenge we have to overcome. I’m sure we will, but something has to change, we have to figure something out.”
The Raptors have usually been in bad situations late in games. The Timberwolves dominated the third quarter Thursday, 35-22. The New York Knicks led 24-13 in the fourth quarter in Toronto’s 111-95 home loss on Tuesday. The Knicks finished the game on a 16-2 run.
“I think they played a little more physical,” Barrett said, explaining how Minnesota took control of the game.
The Raptors also want to turn home court into an advantage they haven’t had. Ages 16-16 at home and ages 19-11 on the road. Toronto has lost four straight at home.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are scheduled to play their fourth of six straight road games on Sunday.
But the game in Boston was similar to the home game for Mavericks rookie Flagg, who scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Flagg, who is from Newport, Maine, about a three-hour drive from Boston, received loud applause.
“It was unbelievable,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “I’ve never heard a road player get such acclaim, especially here in Boston. They tend to go the other way. But it shows the appreciation they have for Cooper.”
“I love being a Maverick,” Flagg said. “It’s home and I wouldn’t want anything else. It’s incredible to be able to play here. Obviously, this is where I came and watched as a kid. It’s going to be a ton of fun to come here and play in front of this crowd for the rest of my career.”
Of course, the biggest cheer Friday was Boston’s Jayson Tatum playing his first game of the season after tearing his right Achilles tendon in the playoffs.
“A lot of people are from home,” Flagg said. ‘It was great. With Jayson back, the energy was amazing. It meant a lot. I took a moment to take a deep breath and try to take it all in. Being on that court is a dream come true. “It’s really special.”
–Field level media
