{"id":98531,"date":"2026-01-13T12:08:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T12:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/98531\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T12:08:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T12:08:37","slug":"cooper-flagg-naji-marshall-guide-shorthanded-dallas-mavericks-past-brooklyn-nets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/98531\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall Guide Shorthanded Dallas Mavericks Past Brooklyn Nets"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Mavericks leaned heavily on execution, patience, and leadership Monday night, riding a composed performance from Cooper Flagg<\/a> and timely contributions across a shortened rotation to a 113\u2013105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at American Airlines Center.<\/p>\n

Dallas led wire to wire, took control early, and answered every Brooklyn push, improving to 15\u201325 overall and 11\u201310 at home. The Mavericks also moved to 5\u201315 this season without Anthony Davis<\/a>, continuing to find ways to compete amid extensive injuries.<\/p>\n

Cooper Flagg finished with 27 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block, delivering the defining stretch late with a powerful dunk and a deep three-pointer in the final two minutes. Naji Marshall<\/a> added 22 points and nine assists, while Klay Thompson<\/a> scored 18 points off the bench, knocking down six three-pointers to reach the 2,800 mark for his career.<\/p>\n

Dallas shot 44.1% from three, forced 18 turnovers, recorded 22 fast-break points, and held Brooklyn to 9-of-37 shooting from deep, a combination that allowed the Mavericks to maintain control even as the Nets repeatedly attempted to shift momentum.<\/p>\n

Early Control Behind Hardy and Ball Movement<\/p>\n

Dallas\u2019 command of the game began immediately, fueled by pace, decisiveness, and early perimeter shooting. With multiple starters sidelined, the Mavericks prioritized quick decisions and early attacks before Brooklyn\u2019s defense could set. Jaden Hardy, making just his second start of the season, provided an immediate spark by playing aggressively off the catch and confidently pulling from deep.<\/p>\n

Hardy scored 11 of his 14 points in the opening five minutes, drilling three early three-pointers as Dallas built momentum and forced Brooklyn into quick defensive adjustments. That early burst allowed the Mavericks to stretch the floor, open driving lanes, and establish rhythm across the lineup.<\/p>\n

Head coach Jason Kidd pointed to that stretch as foundational to the entire night.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, he got us off to a great start,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cBeing able to shoot the three and given his scoring, I thought he was really good to start again. Got us going, and then from that point I thought everybody else chipped in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dallas closed the first quarter on a 10\u20132 run, capitalizing on offensive rebounds, ball movement, and spacing. Thompson knocked down two late threes during that stretch, helping Dallas carry a 32\u201323 lead into the second quarter.<\/p>\n

Cooper Flagg Finds Rhythm, Dallas Mavericks Build Separation<\/p>\n

Brooklyn attempted to respond in the second quarter by increasing physicality and emphasizing second-chance opportunities, but Dallas remained composed. Rather than forcing the issue, Flagg began to impose himself selectively, attacking mismatches, pulling up over switches, and getting downhill when help defenders arrived late.<\/p>\n

His efficiency allowed Dallas to maintain control even as Brooklyn searched for momentum. By halftime, Flagg had scored 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, as the Mavericks built a 56\u201345 advantage.<\/p>\n

As Brooklyn increasingly sent extra defenders toward him \u2014 including multiple possessions late in the second quarter \u2014 Flagg adjusted by reading the floor and keeping the offense flowing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been great,\u201d Flagg said of handling double teams. \u201cObviously it\u2019s a little different, and tonight they did it a little differently. I thought it was better from a team perspective \u2014 being in our spots better. It made it easier for me to get off it and give our guys advantages to go play four-on-three.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the bench, Kidd saw the same composure and decision-making.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe double teams \u2014 I thought he made all the right decisions,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cThe reads, he didn\u2019t force anything. He trusted his teammates to make the plays. We got great looks there in the third quarter. Some of them just didn\u2019t go down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooklyn Nets Push, Dallas Mavericks Respond Again<\/p>\n

The Nets mounted their strongest push in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to six behind Michael Porter Jr., who finished with 28 points. Brooklyn briefly found success by speeding the game up and spacing the floor, but each surge was met with a response.<\/p>\n

Much of Porter\u2019s production came under pressure, with Max Christie taking on the primary defensive assignment for extended stretches. Christie not only absorbed the challenge defensively but also contributed offensively, finishing with 12 points and adding a key transition dunk late.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Christie did a really good job on Porter,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cHe made it tough on him tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kidd also emphasized how lineup flexibility and floor spacing helped Dallas absorb Brooklyn\u2019s pressure and keep Flagg effective, even as the Nets began sending late help and doubles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can have two guys out there \u2014 Thompson and Christie, Christie and Hardy \u2014 and then add Kelly to the mix as another shooter,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cThose two-way guys are playing hard and bringing positive energy. Having multiple shooters out there has helped with Cooper, the spacing, and everyone else getting wide-open shots.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each time the Nets threatened, Dallas answered \u2014 through Marshall getting downhill, Thompson\u2019s shooting gravity, and Flagg continuing to dictate tempo. The Mavericks entered the fourth quarter with an 84\u201377 lead, having allowed just one lead change and one tie all night.<\/p>\n

Naji Marshall and Cooper Flagg Seal It<\/p>\n

Brooklyn again cut into the margin early in the fourth, narrowing the lead to three. Dallas responded not with urgency, but with poise.<\/p>\n

Marshall delivered three baskets during a critical stretch, repeatedly converting floaters in traffic while continuing to facilitate offense and anchor defensive possessions. He finished with 22 points and nine assists, recording his first 20-point, five-assist game of the season and the third-highest assist total of his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cNaji being aggressive \u2014 the floater is his go-to,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cHe tends not to miss those. He was great tonight with that, and also on the defensive end.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Brooklyn increased pressure late \u2014 including sending double teams at Flagg above the arc \u2014 Dallas leaned into spacing and advantage basketball. That trust culminated in Flagg\u2019s defining sequence.<\/p>\n

After forcing a turnover, Flagg rose for a one-handed dunk with 2:12 remaining to push the lead to nine. Moments later, after Brooklyn again committed extra defenders, he buried a three from the top of the key to make it 112\u2013102, effectively sealing the game.<\/p>\n

Even after briefly exiting earlier following an ankle roll, Flagg returned unfazed.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust tied it up, retaped it, and got back out there,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cWhen you roll an ankle like that, you just tighten it up and play through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leadership Beyond the Box Score<\/p>\n

Flagg\u2019s impact extended well beyond scoring, particularly given the context of Dallas\u2019 depleted roster. Kidd emphasized the responsibility Flagg has already embraced despite being just 19 years old.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s leading this team,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cHe is one of our leaders on the floor and off the floor. We have to lean into that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kidd also highlighted Flagg\u2019s two-way growth, pointing to defense and rebounding as areas of continued development rather than limitations.<\/p>\n

\u201cCooper\u2019s a two-way defender,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cHe plays both sides, not just offense. He competes on the defensive end. We\u2019re asking him to get a couple more rebounds \u2014 that\u2019s one area we believe he can get better at. But everything else he\u2019s doing at a high level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flagg downplayed the leadership label, framing his approach as consistency rather than authority.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeader or not, I just try to stay true to myself,\u201d he said. \u201cI stick to my values and my principles. If that can help a team, then great.\u201d<\/p>\n

That growth has been shaped in part by Thompson\u2019s presence, a player Flagg watched growing up and now plays alongside nightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been amazing to be alongside Klay this year, see his leadership,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cHe\u2019s been shooting the lights out lately and has been really hot, so we want to keep it going. It\u2019s been such a pleasure to play alongside him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Klay Thompson Reaches Milestone, Embraces Role<\/p>\n

Thompson\u2019s milestone night carried significance beyond the numbers. With his sixth three-pointer, he became the fifth player in NBA history to reach 2,800 career makes from deep.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s cool,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cThat\u2019s something I don\u2019t take for granted. Pretty sweet, honestly, position to be in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amid constant lineup changes, Thompson has embraced his role as a stabilizing veteran presence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the game, and I love being healthy enough to be out there so much,\u201d he said. \u201cJust the ability to be available is a true blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a mentor, Thompson prefers subtle guidance rooted in experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try to tell them what it felt like when I was a rookie or what I would\u2019ve done differently,\u201d he said. \u201cYou just want to soak it all in.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Needed Win Amid Adversity<\/p>\n

The Mavericks were again without Anthony Davis, P.J. Washington<\/a>, Daniel Gafford<\/a>, Kyrie Irving<\/a>, Dereck Lively II<\/a>, Brandon Williams<\/a>, and Dant\u00e9 Exum forcing Dallas to lean on depth players and two-way contracts. Still, Dallas shot 44.1% from three, forced 18 turnovers, and held Brooklyn to 9-of-37 shooting from deep.<\/p>\n

Dallas also improved to 2\u20130 against Brooklyn this season and has now won four of its last five matchups with the Nets.<\/p>\n

Up next, the Mavericks host Denver on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

Latest Dallas Mavericks News & NBA Trade Rumors<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dallas Mavericks leaned heavily on execution, patience, and leadership Monday night, riding a composed performance from Cooper…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":98532,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[98,100,355,99,10220,9139,45445,27064,45305,30137,9,24,63],"class_list":{"0":"post-98531","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-brooklyn","8":"tag-brooklyn","9":"tag-brooklyn-headlines","10":"tag-brooklyn-nets","11":"tag-brooklyn-news","12":"tag-cooper-flagg","13":"tag-dallas-mavericks","14":"tag-jason-kidd","15":"tag-klay-thompson","16":"tag-naji-marshall","17":"tag-nba-news","18":"tag-new-york","19":"tag-new-york-city","20":"tag-nyc"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}