Cooper Flagg scored 27 points and tied his season high with three steals, and Naji Marshall delivered in the clutch as the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks held off the Brooklyn Nets 113-105 on Monday night.
Marshall scored three consecutive baskets late in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 points to help Dallas snap a two-game losing streak. Klay Thompson provided a spark off the bench with 18 points, matching a season high by knocking down six 3-pointers.
Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 28 points, while Day’Ron Sharpe posted 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. The Nets have dropped four straight games and were swept on a road back-to-back after a 103-98 loss at Memphis on Sunday.
Brooklyn trimmed a 14-point second-half deficit to 99-95 with five minutes remaining, but the Nets were unable to draw any closer down the stretch.
Flagg bounced back after struggling Saturday in Dallas’ lopsided loss at Chicago, when he shot 4 of 13 and scored 11 points. Jaden Hardy, making just his second start of the season, gave Dallas an early boost by scoring 11 of his 14 points in the first five minutes, including three of his four 3-pointers.
The Mavericks were severely depleted, using three players on two-way contracts while missing four injured starters. Anthony Davis is out indefinitely with ligament damage in his left hand, and P.J. Washington Jr. missed his third straight game with an ankle injury.
Porter returned for Brooklyn after sitting out Sunday, while Cam Thomas and Egor Nemin were held out after playing the night before.
Unlike the teams’ meeting in Dallas on Dec. 12 — which featured 23 lead changes and 16 ties — Monday’s game was far more controlled, with just one lead change and one tie.
The Nets continue their road trip Wednesday at New Orleans, while the Mavericks return home to host Denver.
