NBA: Cooper Flagg's all-around effort sparks Mavs past Nets

Cooper Flagg scored 27 points as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets 113-105 on Monday.

Naji Marshall added 22 points and nine assists, while Klay Thompson contributed 18 points, including 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range. The win snapped Dallas’ two-game losing streak and extended Brooklyn’s skid to four games.

Michael Porter Jr. returned for the Nets after being rested in Memphis on Sunday, posting 28 points and nine rebounds. Day'Ron Sharpe also helped off the bench with 14 points and 12 boards. Porter made 6 of 10 three-pointers, while the rest of the Brooklyn squad went just 3 of 27 from long range.

Jaden Hardy got the Mavericks started with 11 first-quarter points, while Sharpe grabbed six offensive rebounds in under seven minutes. Brooklyn struggled from deep, hitting just 1 of 10, compared to Dallas’ 6 of 10, led by Hardy’s 3 of 5. The home team led 32-23 after the opening period.

Flagg dominated the second quarter, scoring 12 points on perfect 5-for-5 shooting. The rookie, coming off a quiet performance against Chicago, followed an off-balance, contested jumper with a massive block on Terance Mann that sent the ball into the stands. The No. 1 overall pick from last June’s draft also added five rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

Flagg made a pair of free throws with 8.3 seconds left in the half to push the score to 56-42 before Mann hit a buzzer-beating three to make it 56-45.

Dallas extended the lead to 63-49 early in the third, but Porter and Drake Powell sparked a 9-0 run to narrow the gap to 63-58. The Nets, who shot 12 of 17 for the quarter, closed the period to 74-71. Nembhard’s long two at the buzzer helped Dallas maintain a 84-77 lead heading into the fourth.

Brooklyn continued to chip away in the final period, cutting the margin to three points before Flagg took control late. After a steal and a slam, he followed with a three-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer to push the lead back to double digits with 1:32 remaining.

Dallas held on to secure the 113-105 victory.

—Field Level Media/Reuters