Trey Murphy reveals Naji Marshall’s playful text following the controversial ending to the Pelicans' 119-116 win over the Mavericks.

Marshall won't start in Friday's game against the Thunder, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports. Marshall is retreating to Dallas' bench with Kyrie Irving back in the lineup. Over his last six games, Marshall is averaging 11.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 threes in 28.4 minutes.

Jason Kidd went with an unorthodox starting lineup in an attempt to end a season-long four-game losing streak. The Dallas Mavericks coach inserted Naji Marshall as the primary ball handler in the first unit and did not start any of his traditional point guards.

Both Dallas and OKC were missing MVP candidates on Friday night, but the Mavericks were able to get a much-needed victory.

Kyrie Irving got brutally honest on the Mavericks' brewing rivalry with the Thunder after Friday night's game.

That decision forced the Thunder to stick close to the Mavericks' role players throughout the first quarter. Once Washington scored the first five points, Irving asserted himself and drained a 3-pointer before finishing at the basket with a finger roll to give the Mavericks an early 10-0 lead.

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 106-98 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The rare defeat had plenty of caveats for both sides. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a late scratch with a wrist sprain. He joined Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in street clothes. Dallas was without Luka Doncic and Dereck Lively II.

Kyrie Irving scored 25 points, Spencer Dinwiddie and P.J. Washington Jr. added 16 apiece and the Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City 106-98 as Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first game of the season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost 106-98 against the Dallas Mavericks Friday night. Oklahoma City trailed by 20 at halftime and managed to take a two-point third-quarter lead but scored just 22 fourth-quarter points.

Kyrie Irving scored 25 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 106-98 home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

The Dallas Mavericks are in title contention this season but have unfortunately dealt with injuries to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving as the role players try to steer the ship until the stars return.

The Mavericks have had some ups and downs. Will they make moves for the better as February's trade deadline draws near?