DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks returned to American Airlines Center for the first of a refreshing four-game homestand following a season-defining road trip that led to another reason to use their rallying call: “Next man up.”
The first taste of their new normal was against the Brooklyn Nets, another team clinging to the bottom of their conference’s standings.
Welcome to that new reality, one that could be described as fluid with inconsistency in availability caused by injuries.
In a game that featured a new starting lineup and different rotation patterns, the Mavericks claimed a 113-105 win over the Nets in their 30th clutch game of the season.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd returned to the bench following his ejection from Saturday’s game in Chicago and rolled out a new first unit that featured a change at point guard and center. Jaden Hardy and Dwight Powell joined Max Christie, Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall.
Their insertions came in lieu of the absence of the injured Anthony Davis, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford along with Brandon Williams, who was ill.
Despite the changes within the roster, Flagg remained the constant. The rookie forward led the Mavericks with 26 points, five rebounds and five assists. He was comfortable as the team’s No. 1 option, a role he’ll own for as long as Davis is out with a left hand sprain.
Flagg showed off his ability to get downhill and finish at the rim with his left hand with a combination of effective jump shooting. Those two skills helped the Maverick build a lead as high as 14 points.
It appeared that the Mavericks’ injury luck would worsen when Flagg rolled his left ankle in the third quarter after stepping on the foot of Nets forward Noah Clowney, but the 19-year-old returned to the game after a brief trip to the locker room and helped his team close its latest victory.
Flagg tested the ankle in the game’s final two minutes with a breakaway two-handed dunk that gave the Mavericks a nine-point lead and enough leeway to cruise to a victory. He also sank the dagger with 1:32 left, drilling a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
The 3-point line was kind to the Mavericks’ who finished 15 of 34 from beyond the arc.
Klay Thompson, who’s also been one of the more durable Mavericks, excelled off the bench and crept closer to a significant milestone. His six triples on Monday gave him 2,801 career 3-pointers. He is three triples away from tying Damian Lillard for fourth on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers list. He has a good chance of claiming sole possession of fourth in Wednesday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets.
Naji Marshall was responsible for putting his teammates in a position to score with nine assists to complement his 22 points.
Hardy kicked off the 3-point flurry in his second start of the season by connecting on three 3-pointers in the first quarter. He scored 14 points off the bench in Saturday’s loss to Chicago and duplicated that on Monday.
Without Davis and Gafford, the Mavericks still managed to compete on the boards. Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe had a double-double before halftime and finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
Dallas will attempt to replicate that winning formula Wednesday against the Nuggets.
Story by Mike Curtis, The Dallas Morning News.
