Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd voiced his frustration with the officiating crew following his team’s 111-107 defeat to the Houston Rockets. Kidd was particularly critical of what he described as missed fouls on Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg late in the game.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Kidd stated that the officials failed to make key calls that could have influenced the outcome, pointing to several instances of contact involving Flagg that were not whistled. “The officials were terrible,” Kidd said. “They missed obvious fouls on Cooper, especially down the stretch. That changes the game.”
The game remained closely contested throughout, with the lead changing hands multiple times in the fourth quarter. Flagg, continuing to play a significant role in the Mavericks’ rotation, was active on both ends of the floor but did not earn a trip to the free-throw line despite what the Mavericks bench perceived as contact.
Kidd’s remarks come amid a stretch where the Mavericks have engaged in several closely fought contests. He emphasized that his concerns were less about individual performances and more about consistency in officiating. “We want our guys to play hard, and they did that tonight. But if calls like that aren’t made, it’s hard to compete at this level.”
The loss moves the Mavericks slightly back in the Western Conference standings, and while Kidd said there’s no time to dwell on the result, he expressed hope that the league would review the game film for potential officiating oversights.
Flagg, one of the most talked-about young players in the league, did not comment on the officiating but acknowledged the intensity of the game. “We’re learning and improving each game. We’ll bounce back,” he said.
Neither the NBA league office nor the officiating crew issued an official response immediately following Kidd’s comments. Teams are allowed to submit formal inquiries to the league for review of specific officiating decisions.
