By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Dallas Mavericks sent the reeling Miami Heat to a dismal 0–4 start to the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season on Monday night, securing a 113–109 victory at the Kaseya Center.
A back-and-forth battle, highlighted by a spectacular duel. Despite a triple-double by Giannis Antetokounmpo, it was the visiting forward who made the defining play when it mattered most.
The Greek superstar did everything in his power. He finished the evening with 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, alongside 14 rebounds, 11 assists, and a block in nearly 39 minutes of action.
This defeat marks a frustrating personal milestone for the former champion. For the first time in his career, Giannis has lost four consecutive games to start a new season. The collective struggle also leaves the Heat at 0–4 for just the fifth time in franchise history, a threshold they haven’t crossed since 2008–09. Shooting woes heavily contributed, with Erik Spoelstra’s players missing 11 of their 25 free-throw attempts against the Mavs.
Sergio de Larrea injury
Miami’s rotation featured Swedish Pelle Larsson tallying 12 points, four assists, and three steals in a productive 33-minute stint. Conversely, Serbian Nikola Jovic and Italian Simone Fontecchio found themselves completely out of the rotation, while Russian Vladislav Goldin remained inactive.
At the winning end, Spanish Sergio de Larrea was forced into an early locker room exit after logging just one rebound in nearly six minutes, having suffered a right knee strain. He is scheduled for further evaluation on Tuesday morning. His injury compounds a crowded medical report, with fellow Spanish Santi Aldama recovering from knee surgery and Turkish Tarik Biberovic sidelined due to heel bursitis.
Meanwhile, French forward Zaccharie Risacher struggled with his efficiency as a reserve, shooting 2-of-13 from the field to finish with six points. However, he supported the defense with eight rebounds, three blocks, and a steal in his 30 minutes. British forward Tobi Lawal did not play.
The story of the night belonged to Cooper Flagg. After being cleared from a left shoulder sprain, the 19-year-old forward looked entirely unbothered by the ailment. He matched Giannis with 29 points of his own and dished out 11 assists to pilot the offense. Flagg scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, and blocked a potential go-ahead 3-point attempt by Andrew Wiggins with 31 seconds left.
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