In a gritty, hard-fought battle at the American Airlines Center on Monday, January 12, 2026, the Dallas Mavericks finally halted their recent slide, grinding out a 113-105 victory over the struggling Brooklyn Nets to improve to 15-25 on the season.
The win snapped a potential three-game losing streak for Dallas after a tough 125-107 road defeat to the Chicago Bulls, where coach Jason Kidd was ejected early. Coming off that frustration, the Mavericks leaned on home-court energy and a balanced attack to fend off a pesky Nets side that has now dropped four straight and sits at a dismal 11-26.
Cooper Flagg continued his breakout rookie campaign as the standout performer, delivering a strong all-around showing with points, rebounds, and playmaking that kept Dallas in control during key stretches. His energy and versatility were crucial in a game where the Mavericks built an early lead and never fully let go.
Dallas jumped out strong in the first quarter, outscoring Brooklyn 32-23 behind aggressive interior play and timely perimeter shooting. They maintained momentum into the second (24-22), leading 56-45 at halftime. The Nets fought back fiercely in the third, narrowing the gap with a 32-28 burst fueled by hot shooting from reserves and Michael Porter Jr.'s scoring touch. But Dallas responded in the fourth (29-28), holding firm despite Brooklyn's late push.
The game featured solid contributions across the board for the Mavericks. Anthony Davis was sidelined (ongoing injury management), but the supporting cast stepped up with physical defense and rebounding (Dallas grabbed key boards to limit second-chance points). The Nets, led by Porter Jr.'s scoring and Nic Claxton's interior presence, shot a respectable 45.3% from the field but struggled with turnovers (17) and couldn't overcome the early deficit.
This result provides a much-needed confidence boost for a Mavericks team mired in the Western Conference basement, while the Nets' skid highlights ongoing struggles with consistency and closing out games. Brooklyn's road woes continue (6-11 away), and they'll need a quick turnaround to avoid sinking deeper in the East.
Dallas now looks ahead with renewed hope, while the Nets search for answers amid a brutal stretch. A classic case of survival in a low-stakes but high-intensity matchup—ugly at times, but a W is a W for the home side!
