NEW ORLEANS _ Just when we're ready to raise the bar and expect more from the Mavericks, they remind us how far they have to go to be a finished product.
It usually happens on the road and their flaws were on full display Wednesday night. Just as a lot of tourists don't want what happens on Bourbon Street to follow them home, the Mavericks would just as soon forget everything that happened in the Big Easy, which is exactly what it was for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Then again, maybe they need to remember nights like this if it'll help them avoid repeating them.
Playing the sort of loose defense that brought back memories of that 2-7 start to the season, the Mavericks were pounded 132-106 by the Pelicans, who came into the game 28th in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing more than 116 points per game.
The Mavericks decided to be gracious guests and play similar defense as they fell to 2-9 on the road. Until they prove they can survive in hostile environments, any talk about playoff contention rings hollow.
"Every road game we've played this season, we've lost almost a different way every time," said Harrison Barnes. "It's not one specific thing. We just need to be better, flat-out. For our season to be the way we want it to be, we're going to have to win on the road."
Maybe this clunker was predictable. The Mavericks had beaten Portland on Tuesday night in Dallas and while fatigue may or may not have been a factor, being a beat-up team certainly was.
Dennis Smith Jr., nagged by right wrist pain, sat out the game, as did Salah Mejri. J.J. Barea played with a fat upper lip that's still sore from the four stitches he needed to close up wounds inside his mouth.
The Mavericks had won 10 of their last 13 before Wednesday and they had shown signs that this was something more than just a hot streak after a miserable start.
Their resolve, missing on Wednesday, had been commendable for the past month.
"Teams that make sacrifices individually come together as a group," coach Rick Carlisle said. "That's really what it's all about. On Sunday, Barea's lip is all busted up. And Smith had his tooth on the floor, he stayed in, won the jump ball and came back in to make the game-winning play. These are things that bring teams together.
"I don't love the fact that we're losing teeth and things like that. But the spirit has been great. And we got to do everything possible to continue that."
Wednesday was a step in the wrong direction.
If the Mavericks can't figure out how to win on the road, they stand to remain in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference. Every win is like gold. But the losses always seem to sting a little more when you know there are 14 teams that will legitimately be fighting for eight playoff spots _ at least as things stand now.
"You can't get too caught up in the standings," Carlisle said. "In the Western Conference, every game is going to have significant meaning all year long. That's just the way it is. There's no bigger challenge in the NBA right now than playing in the West and being in that cluster of teams trying to scratch and claw your way up a spot or two."
Meanwhile, as the Mavericks wait for the possible season debut of Dirk Nowitzki on the upcoming three-game homestand that starts Saturday against Houston, they aren't totally sure about when Smith will be available.
After trying to play through the pain in his right wrist, Smith reached the point where he has to let the injury heal. He's listed as day to day.
"I've been dealing with it for a couple weeks, trying to play through it, play through it and it just wasn't getting any better," Smith said. "It actually started feeling a little worse. I think it's time to just let it get better."
Aggravating matters, Smith fell on the wrist Tuesday against Portland, slipping on the game-clinching play and bracing his fall with both hands on the floor.
"That last play, the kick-out for Luka (Doncic), the step-back dagger," Smith said. "You could see after that I was holding it the whole time.
"Dealing with it the last couple weeks has been tough. I just have to let it take its course. I'm still going to do my treatment and everything for it. I shouldn't miss too much time."
Smith originally hurt the wrist on Nov. 19 at Memphis. He played the following game and then sat one out. He has played the last four games but his outside shooting has been severely impacted by the pain in the wrist. He's 4-of-17 from 3-point range since the injury happened.
He said X-ray and MRI exams showed no structural problems with the wrist.
