The Dallas Mavericks are finally rolling. Behind a composed finish from rookie phenom Cooper Flagg and veteran star Anthony Davis, Dallas secured its first three-game winning streak of the season with a 118–108 victory over the short-handed Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Flagg finished with 22 points, showcasing once again why he was the No. 1 overall pick, while Davis added 17 points and dominated the glass with 17 rebounds. The duo combined to score the Mavericks’ final eight points, slamming the door on a late Miami rally after the Heat had cut what was once a 17-point deficit to four with just under three minutes remaining.
Miami made its push on a bucket by Bam Adebayo—who was strong throughout with 21 points—but Davis and Flagg answered immediately, preventing the Heat from getting any closer.
Dallas’ point guard situation appears to have found a spark in undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard. Coming off a career-high 28-point performance in a win over Denver, Nembhard followed it with 15 points and a season-high 13 assists. He made all three of his 3-point attempts during a crucial three-minute stretch in the second quarter, a burst that allowed Dallas to take the lead for good.
Nembhard has now started four consecutive games—the first starts of his NBA career—and continues to look increasingly comfortable orchestrating the Mavericks’ offense.
Off the bench, Klay Thompson delivered 17 points in his evolving sixth-man role, giving Dallas another reliable scoring option in second units.
Miami stayed competitive despite a depleted lineup. Leading scorer Norman Powell sat out with a sprained left ankle, and the offensive burden shifted heavily to Tyler Herro and Kel’el Ware.
Ware was a force inside, posting 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Herro poured in 20 points—but all of them came in the first half. Returning from offseason surgery on his left ankle and foot, Herro went cold after halftime, missing all five of his shots, including four from deep.
The Heat shot just 8 of 27 from three and struggled to match Dallas’ perimeter efficiency. The Mavericks buried 16 of 32 from long range, using timely shooting to withstand Miami’s late pressure.
Dallas suffered a scare when starting center Daniel Gafford exited in the second half with a left ankle injury and did not return. His status moving forward is uncertain. Davis, meanwhile, played on consecutive nights for the first time since missing a month with a left calf strain—an encouraging sign for the Mavericks.
After Miami closed to within 110–106 late, Flagg and Davis showed poise beyond their combined experience. The rookie buried a mid-range jumper and got to the rim for a key bucket, while Davis sealed possessions on the defensive end and added a tough finish inside. Their late dominance prevented any repeat of Miami’s comeback attempts earlier in the game.
Heat: At Orlando on Friday night. Mavericks: At Oklahoma City on Friday night
With Dallas finally stringing together wins and its young pieces blossoming alongside a healthier Davis, the Mavericks appear to be turning a corner as December begins.