**Jason Kidd Expresses Frustration Over Mavericks’ Effort Following Last-Second Loss to Suns**

In an uncharacteristic display of frustration, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd did not hold back following his team's 114-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. The narrow defeat, culminating in a crucial offensive rebound and free throw by Suns center Jusuf Nurkic with less than a second remaining, appeared to be the tipping point for Kidd.

Kidd's irritation stemmed not from the heart-wrenching final moments of the game but from yet another sluggish start by the Mavericks. The team fell behind by 14 points early on, an all-too-familiar scenario that has plagued them this season. Kidd voiced his frustration candidly, using explicit language during his postgame comments to emphasize his point. "For whatever reason, we get off to a slow start," he remarked. "There's got to be action. There's got to be some energy. Somebody's got to come with some f---ing energy. We're f---ing flat."

Despite a strong performance from star players Luka Doncic, who scored 30 points, and Kyrie Irving, with 29 points, Kidd lamented the lack of support from the bench. "The fatigue of running Luka and Kai 40-something minutes because our bench stinks right now," Kidd said. "As deep as we are, we've got to get someone to f---ing participate off the bench."

Throughout the game, Kidd experimented with various lineup combinations, putting 11 Mavericks players on the court. However, Phoenix capitalized on Dallas's shortcomings, particularly during a three-minute stretch in the first quarter when they made 8 of 13 three-point attempts.

In the final moments, after a missed 9-foot shot by Phoenix's Royce O'Neale, Nurkic grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled, setting the stage for his game-winning free throw. Despite a replay review suggesting the foul was questionable, it was upheld, leaving Doncic’s last-second heave short and the Mavericks to ponder what might have been.

Kidd emphasized the need for toughness and resilience, particularly on the boards, as his team conceded 11 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance points. The loss dropped the Mavericks to a 5-4 record, a disappointing outcome from a season-high-tying five-game homestand where they went 2-3.

Kyrie Irving called for the team to stay focused, recognizing the length of the season and the importance of consistency. "Yeah, it is a bit surprising that we're 5-4," Irving said. "But it's the reality of where we are. Can't sulk your head. It's an 82-game season."

For Kidd and the Mavericks, the early-season struggles serve as a wake-up call. "We're trying to learn who we are," Kidd said. "Maybe we're a sleepy team that just kind of waits. But something that we talk about, and again, the energy is something that we can hold them accountable for."

Luka Doncic echoed his coach’s sentiments, stressing the importance of high-energy starts and collective responsibility. "Always, we can do better," he said. "Always, I can do better. Everybody can do better. We can't wait. We've just got to go out and get it. You know, teams are after us."

The Mavericks now look ahead to a challenging series of road games against Denver, Golden State, and Utah, hoping to turn their fortunes around and inject some much-needed energy into their play.