The 2003-04 Dallas Mavericks season was marked by a high-octane offense but challenges in defense, resulting in a 52-30 record. Led by head coach Don Nelson, the Mavericks showcased their scoring prowess, finishing with the second-best offensive rating in the NBA. Dirk Nowitzki emerged as the team’s cornerstone, averaging 21.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The team also featured star players like Steve Nash and Michael Finley.
The Mavericks made notable roster changes, acquiring Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison, which bolstered their scoring but did little to elevate their defensive struggles. Entering the playoffs as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, the Mavericks faced the Sacramento Kings in the first round. Despite their scoring capabilities, Dallas was unable to advance, losing the series 4-1. This season highlighted the need for a more balanced approach, which influenced future roster and strategy adjustments.
- Regular Season Record: 52-30
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-4
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 2003-04 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dirk Nowitzki | 77 | 21.8 | 8.7 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 34.1 | 5 | 26.6 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 46.7 |
| Michael Finley | 72 | 18.6 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 40.5 | 5 | 13.0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 26.9 |
| Antawn Jamison | 82 | 14.8 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 40.0 | 5 | 13.0 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 25.0 |
| Steve Nash | 78 | 14.5 | 3.0 | 8.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 40.5 | 5 | 13.6 | 5.2 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 37.5 |
| Antoine Walker | 82 | 14.0 | 8.3 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 26.9 | 5 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 10.0 |
| Josh Howard | 67 | 8.6 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 30.3 | 5 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 20.0 |
| Marquis Daniels | 56 | 8.5 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 30.5 | 5 | 15.8 | 6.2 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 14.3 |
| Tony Delk | 33 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 30.3 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Danny Fortson | 56 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shawn Bradley | 66 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eduardo Nájera | 58 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 50.0 | 5 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Scott Williams | 27 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Travis Best | 61 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 15.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mamadou N'Diaye | 3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks in the 2004 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Sacramento Kings
In the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Sacramento Kings in the first round. Despite a strong performance by Dirk Nowitzki, averaging 26.6 points per game, the Mavericks were eliminated in five games, with Sacramento's balanced attack and defensive prowess proving too much for Dallas to overcome. This marked a disappointing exit for a team that had high aspirations following their conference finals run the previous year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 116-105 | |
| Apr 20, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 83-79 | |
| Apr 24, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 104-79 | |
| Apr 26, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 94-92 | |
| Apr 29, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 119-118 |
Dallas Mavericks 2003-04 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2003-04 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-93 | |
| Oct 29, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 95-87 | |
| Nov 01, 2003 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 127-102 | |
| Nov 03, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | W 103-93 | |
| Nov 05, 2003 | @ Washington Wizards | L 100-90 | |
| Nov 06, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 77-71 | |
| Nov 08, 2003 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 81-78 | |
| Nov 11, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 125-97 | |
| Nov 13, 2003 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 97-86 | |
| Nov 15, 2003 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 108-101 | |
| Nov 17, 2003 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 105-98 | |
| Nov 20, 2003 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 95-92 | |
| Nov 22, 2003 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 115-101 | |
| Nov 25, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 124-98 | |
| Nov 26, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 121-90 | |
| Nov 28, 2003 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 113-103 | |
| Nov 29, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 92-88 | |
| Dec 02, 2003 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 97-72 | |
| Dec 04, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-103 | |
| Dec 06, 2003 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 110-97 | |
| Dec 10, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 100-99 | |
| Dec 12, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-93 | |
| Dec 15, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 111-94 | |
| Dec 17, 2003 | @ Boston Celtics | L 105-103 | |
| Dec 18, 2003 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 114-109 | |
| Dec 20, 2003 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 115-105 | |
| Dec 23, 2003 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 97-88 | |
| Dec 25, 2003 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 111-103 | |
| Dec 27, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 104-98 | |
| Dec 30, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-92 | |
| Jan 02, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-101 | |
| Jan 03, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 119-112 | |
| Jan 05, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-94 | |
| Jan 07, 2004 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 105-99 | |
| Jan 09, 2004 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 92-80 | |
| Jan 11, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 115-102 | |
| Jan 12, 2004 | @ New York Knicks | W 127-121 | |
| Jan 14, 2004 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-122 | |
| Jan 16, 2004 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 91-88 | |
| Jan 17, 2004 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 108-104 | |
| Jan 20, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 106-93 | |
| Jan 22, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 106-87 | |
| Jan 23, 2004 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-93 | |
| Jan 25, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 108-99 | |
| Jan 27, 2004 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 118-116 | |
| Jan 28, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | L 91-88 | |
| Jan 31, 2004 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 107-102 | |
| Feb 03, 2004 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 107-93 | |
| Feb 04, 2004 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 113-104 | |
| Feb 07, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 111-108 | |
| Feb 09, 2004 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 102-96 | |
| Feb 10, 2004 | vs. New York Knicks | W 105-90 | |
| Feb 17, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 109-92 | |
| Feb 18, 2004 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 114-98 | |
| Feb 21, 2004 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 97-88 | |
| Feb 24, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 116-91 | |
| Feb 26, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 115-91 | |
| Feb 28, 2004 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-91 | |
| Mar 02, 2004 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 107-96 | |
| Mar 03, 2004 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 121-97 | |
| Mar 05, 2004 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 113-100 | |
| Mar 07, 2004 | @ Houston Rockets | L 101-98 | |
| Mar 08, 2004 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-90 | |
| Mar 11, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 120-102 | |
| Mar 13, 2004 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 113-90 | |
| Mar 14, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 101-88 | |
| Mar 17, 2004 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 111-110 | |
| Mar 19, 2004 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-104 | |
| Mar 21, 2004 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 101-98 | |
| Mar 22, 2004 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-98 | |
| Mar 24, 2004 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 103-99 | |
| Mar 26, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | L 119-118 | |
| Mar 28, 2004 | @ Orlando Magic | W 118-88 | |
| Mar 30, 2004 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 126-109 | |
| Apr 01, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 127-117 | |
| Apr 03, 2004 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 124-103 | |
| Apr 06, 2004 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 118-108 | |
| Apr 08, 2004 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 117-94 | |
| Apr 10, 2004 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-99 | |
| Apr 11, 2004 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 108-107 | |
| Apr 13, 2004 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 110-103 | |
| Apr 14, 2004 | @ Houston Rockets | W 92-89 |