Dallas Mavericks leaned on a balanced effort Monday night, pulling away late to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 113-105 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Cooper Flagg scored 27 points and matched his season high with three steals, setting the tone on both ends as Dallas improved to 15-25 and snapped a two-game losing streak.
The rookie forward rebounded from a difficult outing Saturday in Chicago, when he shot 4-for-13 and scored 11 points in a 125-107 loss, responding with efficient scoring and active defense throughout the night.
Naji Marshall delivered timely offense down the stretch, scoring on three straight possessions in the final minutes and finishing with 22 points to steady the Mavericks after Brooklyn closed the gap.
Klay Thompson provided a lift off the bench, scoring 18 points and matching his season high with six 3-pointers as Dallas shot 44 percent from beyond the arc.
The Mavericks built a 14-point cushion in the second half and maintained control most of the night, with only one lead change and one tie after halftime.
Brooklyn made a late push, trimming the deficit to 99-95 with five minutes remaining, but could not generate the stops needed to fully swing momentum.
Michael Porter Jr. led all scorers for the Nets with 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting, while Day’Ron Sharpe added 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
The Nets fell to 11-26 and have now dropped four straight games.
Dallas played shorthanded again, using three players on two-way contracts while missing four injured starters, including Anthony Davis, who is out indefinitely with ligament damage in his left hand, and P.J. Washington Jr., sidelined for a third straight game with an ankle injury.
Jaden Hardy made his second start of the season and sparked the offense early, scoring 11 of his 14 points in the opening five minutes, highlighted by three early 3-pointers.
Brooklyn welcomed Porter back after he sat out Sunday, while Cam Thomas and Egor Nemin were held out after appearing in the previous game.
The result contrasted sharply with the teams’ December 12 meeting in Dallas, a 119-111 Mavericks win that featured 23 lead changes and 16 ties.
Dallas finished the night shooting 51 percent from the field and committed only 12 turnovers, a key factor in protecting its late lead.
The Nets will continue their road trip Wednesday at New Orleans, while the Mavericks remain home to host Denver the same night.
