25 Nov 2025
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The Dallas Mavericks pulled off one of the most improbable wins of the 2024-2025 NBA season on Thursday night, February 13, 2025, defeating the Miami Heat 118-113 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas — despite having only nine players available and playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Dante Exum, normally a bench contributor, exploded for a season-high 27 points, just one shy of his career best, carrying the Mavs through a gritty, physical battle against a team that had won four straight. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t supposed to happen. But it did.
How a depleted roster beat a top Eastern team
The Heat entered the game with an 11-6 record and were playing at the fastest pace in the league, a dramatic shift from their methodical style last season. They led 22-21 after the first quarter and outscored Dallas 34-34 in the second, tying things up heading into halftime. But while Miami’s offense sputtered in the fourth (just 30 points), the Mavericks, fueled by Exum’s relentless drives and clutch shooting from Dereck Lively II and Kyrie Irving (who played through a sore ankle), closed with 34 points in the final frame. The Heat had no answer. Not with Bam Adebayo sitting out with a calf strain. Not with their usual rotation stretched thin. And certainly not against a Dallas team that had lost its last three games and was widely written off as a lottery lock.
The numbers don’t lie — and they’re shocking
Only nine Mavericks suited up. Two were two-way players. One, Malik Monk, had been signed just 48 hours earlier after being waived by Sacramento. The team’s average minutes per player jumped to 38.6 — nearly five minutes above their season average. Exum played 41 minutes. Irving, who had logged 39 in the previous night’s loss to Memphis, played 37. The Heat, by contrast, had their full roster and rested starters. Yet Dallas outrebounded them 48-42, forced 17 turnovers, and held Miami to 41% shooting from the field in the second half. The final score — 118-113 — looks close. But the game was never really in doubt after Exum hit a step-back three with 2:14 left to push the lead to six. The crowd erupted. The Heat’s bench sat silent.
Historical context: A rivalry reborn
Dallas and Miami have played 45 games since 2006. The Heat lead the series 23-22 — a razor-thin edge. But what’s fascinating is the trend: Dallas averages 102.09 points per game in Miami, while Miami averages just 101.42 in Dallas. The average total points per game? 203.51. This game? 231. A shootout. And it wasn’t the first time this season Dallas had beaten Miami by that exact score. On February 14, 2025 — likely a typo in some reports — they won 118-113 again in Dallas. The real back-to-back? The November 24, 2025 matchup in Miami, where the Heat won 106-102 behind Tyler Herro’s 24 points and Kel’el Ware’s 18 rebounds. That loss dropped Dallas to 5-14. This win? It lifted them to 5-13. A small shift. But a psychological one.
Why this matters beyond the standings
The Mavericks are 14th in the Western Conference, ahead of only New Orleans and Washington. Their playoff hopes are fading. But this win — against a team that could easily be a top-three seed — sent a message: they’re not done fighting. Coaches across the league are watching. Teams with young rosters, like Toronto and Portland, are taking notes. When a team with nine healthy players beats a contender on the road, it doesn’t just change the record. It changes perception. It proves culture matters more than depth. It shows that when you have players who trust each other — like Exum and Lively, who combined for 41 points and 15 rebounds — you can overcome anything.
What’s next for both teams?
Dallas faces a brutal stretch: home against Golden State, then back-to-backs in Portland and Sacramento. Their next chance to prove this wasn’t a fluke? A rematch with Miami on March 2, 2025, in Miami. The Heat, meanwhile, return to the road with games against Atlanta and Boston. They’ll need to find answers — especially on defense. Their 113 points on Thursday? That’s below their season average of 116.8. They’re still elite. But now, they’re vulnerable.
Behind the scenes: The human story
Exum, 28, spent last season in Australia after being released by the Nets. He signed a 10-day contract with Dallas in January. No one expected him to be a starter. No one expected him to be the guy who carried them when the stars were tired. "I just wanted to make sure I didn’t let the guys down," he told reporters after the game, sweat still dripping from his brow. "We’ve been counted out so many times, we’ve stopped listening. We just play." And that’s what made this win special. It wasn’t about talent. It was about heart. About grit. About a team that refused to quit — even when the odds were impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Dante Exum manage to score 27 points with only nine players available?
With Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić sidelined or limited, Exum became the primary offensive engine. He took 19 shots — his most since 2022 — and attacked Miami’s rotations aggressively, drawing fouls and hitting clutch mid-range jumpers. The absence of Bam Adebayo opened driving lanes, and Exum capitalized, going 9-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 at the line. His minutes (41) were a career-high this season, made possible by Dallas’s minimal rotation.
Why was Miami’s four-game winning streak so significant?
Miami’s streak included wins over Boston, Milwaukee, and Phoenix — three of the top teams in the East. Their pace had increased by 5.2 possessions per game compared to last season, making them one of the league’s most dangerous offensive teams. Their 11-6 record placed them third in the East, and they were considered a legitimate contender. Losing to a 5-13 team on the road, especially with their full roster, was a major setback that exposed defensive inconsistencies.
What’s the significance of the 118-113 scoreline in the Mavericks-Heat rivalry?
This was the second time this season Dallas beat Miami by that exact score — first on February 14, 2025 (likely misreported as the 13th), and again on the 13th. Historically, only two other games in their 45-match series ended in that exact score. It suggests a pattern: when these teams meet, the games are tight, high-scoring, and often come down to the final possession. The 203.51-point average per matchup confirms this is a stylistic clash — Miami’s pace versus Dallas’s half-court execution.
How does this win impact Dallas’s playoff chances?
Realistically, Dallas’s playoff odds remain below 10%. They’re 14th in the West, 9.5 games behind the eighth seed. But this win gave them their first back-to-back wins since December. More importantly, it proved they can compete with elite teams even without their stars. That morale boost could help them win more games in the final stretch — and potentially influence draft lottery odds if they keep playing above expectations.
What does this say about Miami’s team chemistry?
Miami’s loss exposed a reliance on their top four players — Herro, Adebayo, Butler, and Robinson. When Adebayo was out, their interior defense collapsed. Their bench scored just 28 points, far below their season average of 41. The Heat looked flat in the fourth quarter, missing open threes and turning the ball over in crunch time. It’s not panic yet, but coaches are asking: can they win a playoff series if their stars are contained?
Is this a sign of a turnaround for the Mavericks?
Not yet. Their roster is still too thin, and injuries are piling up. But this win showed they have a culture built on accountability and hustle. Players like Exum, Lively, and rookie guard Isaiah Collier are stepping up. If they can maintain this energy, even without Dončić, they might finish the season on a high note — and give front office decision-makers something to build on next offseason.