The 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.
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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, P.J. 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 27 points, five rebounds and five assists. He was comfortable as the team’s No. 1 option and designated leader. It’s not the role the Mavericks anticipated on a team with Davis and Kyrie Irving, but it’s a role he’ll own for as long as both are sidelined.
“Leader or not, I just try to stay true to myself,” Flagg said. “I stick to my values and principles and if that can help a team and that’s what guys can look at, then great, but it’s about just being myself. Being vocal and letting that side come out. We have a great group of guys. A lot of great personalities. That’s made me able to come out of my shell and be myself.”
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After an off-night in Chicago, Flagg looked more like himself on the court. He displayed his ability to get downhill and finish at the rim with his left hand, along with a welcomed presence of effective jump shooting. Those two skills helped the Mavericks 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.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) celebrates with forward Dwight Powell after blocking a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at American Airlines Center on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
“Just tied it up tighter, retaped it and got back out there,” Flagg said.
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 3s list. He has a good chance of claiming sole possession of fourth in Wednesday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets.
Kidd praised Thompson’s performance and acknowledged his upcoming milestone.
“Klay was great tonight,” Kidd said. “Reaching 2,800 is really cool. … He’s going to continue to keep climbing the charts there. I thought he was great for us offensively. We stretched his minutes tonight.”
Thompson played nearly 27 minutes Monday, more than his average of 22.
The most effective player on the court, according to his game-high +12 plus-minus, was Naji Marshall, another consistent presence for the Mavericks. He facilitated the ball well with nine assists to complement his 22 points, 12 of which were scored in the fourth quarter.
While Marshall helped the Mavericks close, it was Hardy who kicked off the 3-point party with a trio of triples in the first quarter. He scored 14 points off the bench in Saturday’s loss to Chicago and duplicated that on Monday, providing exactly what his specialty is.
Without Davis and Gafford, the Mavericks still managed to compete on the boards, losing just 43-37. Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe had a double-double before halftime and finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Michael Porter Jr. paced the Nets with 28 points and nine rebounds.
On Monday, the Mavericks lived out their next-man-up approach.
They’ll attempt to reproduce the same outcome on Wednesday. It’s unclear if Gafford and Williams will return later in the homestand. Kidd said he’s hopeful Washington will return to the lineup in a week.
That uncertainty is what the Mavericks’ new reality will look like going forward.
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