At a Glance
- Cooper Flagg scored 27 points and added three blocks to lead the Mavericks past Brooklyn 113-105.
- Naji Marshall scored three clutch baskets down the stretch and finished with 22 points.
- Dallas snapped a two-game slide despite missing four injured starters.
- Why it matters: The shorthanded Mavericks found a much-needed win amid a brutal injury stretch.
Dallas leaned on its young core and a late burst from Naji Marshall to escape with a 113-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, ending a two-game losing streak while playing without four starters.
Flagg Bounces Back
Cooper Flagg shook off a rough 11-point outing in Saturday’s 125-117 loss at Chicago by pouring in 27 points and tying his season high with three blocks. The rookie’s aggressive start set the tone, and his defense anchored a Dallas lineup patched together with three two-way players.
Flagg’s shot chart:
- 10-of-18 from the field
- 3-of-8 from deep
- 4-of-5 at the line
Marshall’s Closing Kick
Every time Brooklyn crept within striking distance, Naji Marshall answered. After the Nets trimmed a 14-point second-half deficit to 99-95 with five minutes left, Marshall scored on three straight possessions to push the lead back to eight and secure the win.
Marshall’s final line:
- 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting
- 4 rebounds, 2 assists
- 8 points in the final 5:05
Thompson Heats Up from Deep
Klay Thompson came off the bench and drilled six 3-pointers-matching his season high-to finish with 18 points. Brooklyn’s scramble defense left him open on the weak side, and Thompson punished them in the second and fourth quarters.
| Quarter | Thompson 3s | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 3 | 9 |
| 4th | 3 | 9 |
Nets’ Rally Falls Short
Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 28 points after missing Sunday’s loss at Memphis. Day’Ron Sharpe added 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, but the Nets couldn’t overcome a 40-point second quarter by Dallas and managed only one lead change all night.
Brooklyn has now:
- Dropped four straight
- Been swept on a road back-to-back
- Fallen to 11-26 on the season
Injury Report
Dallas suited up without four starters:
- Anthony Davis – out indefinitely with ligament damage in his left hand
- P.J. Washington Jr. – missed his third straight game with an ankle injury
- Two others sidelined (names not provided)
The Mavericks countered by activating three players on two-way contracts and giving Jaden Hardy his second start of the season. Hardy responded with 14 points, 11 of which came in the opening five minutes.
Head-to-Head Contrast
When these teams met in Dallas on Dec. 12, the game featured 23 lead changes and 16 ties. Monday’s rematch was a different story:
| Stat | Dec. 12 | Monday |
|---|---|---|
| Lead changes | 23 | 1 |
| Ties | 16 | 1 |
| Final score | 119-111 | 113-105 |
Up Next
The Mavericks improved to 15-25 with the victory. Brooklyn fell to 11-26 and will look to snap its skid when it returns home. Cameron R. Hayes reported earlier that Cam Thomas and Egor Nemin sat out Monday after playing Sunday, while Porter returned to the lineup.
Key Takeaways
- Flagg’s 27-point, three-block effort fuels Dallas’ rare healthy momentum.
- Marshall’s late-game poacher role proves vital for a depleted roster.
- Brooklyn’s fourth-quarter push fizzled, extending its slide to four games.
