The Dallas Mavericks closed their season with a 149-128 win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night at American Airlines Center, powered by record-setting playmaking and balanced scoring.
Dallas finished 26-56, ending the year on a high note despite missing the postseason, while Chicago dropped to 31-51 after entering the night locked into lottery positioning.
Ryan Nembhard delivered a historic performance, recording 23 assists to set a Mavericks rookie record and the franchise mark for assists in a regulation game.
The rookie guard also added 15 points and nine rebounds, consistently breaking down the defense and creating open looks across the floor.
John Poulakidas led Dallas in scoring with 28 points, hitting eight three-pointers and stretching Chicago’s defense with perimeter shooting.
Moussa Cisse controlled the paint with 17 points and 20 rebounds, tying a franchise rookie record for rebounds and anchoring the interior on both ends.
Tyler Smith and AJ Johnson added 20 points each, highlighting Dallas’ depth as eight players finished in double figures.
The Mavericks’ offensive efficiency stood out, shooting 52% from the field and 45% from three-point range while generating 35 assists.
Dallas set the tone early with its highest-scoring first quarter of the season, building a 45-34 lead through pace and transition scoring.
That momentum carried into halftime, where the Mavericks held an 80-56 advantage after their most productive half of the year.
Chicago showed offensive balance as well, with eight players scoring in double figures, led by Rob Dillingham’s 25 points off the bench.
Patrick Williams added 13 points, while Leonard Miller and Collin Sexton contributed 17 and 19 points, respectively. Australian center Lachlan Olbrich, who started for Chicago, recorder a triple-double of 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Despite shooting 49% from the field, the Bulls struggled to match Dallas’ tempo and three-point volume, converting just 10 of 38 attempts from deep.
The game also marked the end of Cooper Flagg’s debut season, which was cut short in the finale due to a sprained left ankle after he scored 10 points in 10 minutes.
The No. 1 pick finished his rookie campaign averaging 21.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists across 70 games.
Chicago now turns its focus to the offseason, while Dallas will enter the lottery after finishing with the seventh-worst record in the league.
