Michael Porter Jr. poured in 34 points, tying Kevin Durant and James Harden for the longest streak of 33-point games in Nets history, and rookie Danny Wolf added 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench. But it wasn’t enough, as Brooklyn fell to the Dallas Mavericks 119-111 in a game that featured 23 lead changes and 16 ties.
The Nets, who had won three of their previous four entering the night, dropped to 6-18 with the loss. Still, the night carried plenty of intrigue, starting with a long-awaited look at the league’s newest star.
Brooklyn faced Cooper Flagg for the first time this season, the prospect many teams, including the Nets, spent last year positioning themselves for. The 2025 No. 1 pick quickly stirred some what-if thoughts among fans.
The game opened with an efficient, aggressive pace on both sides. Porter set the tone early, hitting three of his first four shots and scoring 11 points before checking out with 2:41 left in the period. Dallas didn’t stumble out of the gate, as Flagg matched Porter’s hot start and reached 12 points before subbing out at the 30.2 mark. Both teams shot exactly 52% in the first quarter (13-for-25), but Brooklyn took a 33-32 lead into the second after a 7-0 run in the final 17 seconds.
Rookie Nolan Traore opened the second quarter at point guard, making his first NBA appearance since Nov. 18 after a lengthy but highly productive G League run. He’d miss both of his shots and commit two fouls in nine minutes, including a shift to start the fourth in a two-point game, but the more telling detail was Jordi Fernández turning to him in key moments. That choice reflected the trust Traore has earned during his time on Long Island.
The second quarter was just as competitive as the first. Porter and Flagg kept scoring, and Tyrese Martin gave the Nets a lift with 11 points off the bench. That was most of the second-unit production for Brooklyn, aside from a 3-pointer from Wolf. Dallas, meanwhile, got 15 bench points from Max Christie, Dwight Powell, Brandon Williams and Klay Thompson.
The Mavericks shot 57.9% in the quarter and turned five Brooklyn turnovers into seven points, building a four-point lead at halftime. Porter, continuing to build his All-Star case, scored 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting in the first half, his fifth time this season reaching 20 or more in a single half.
Noah Clowney picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, forcing Fernández to turn to Wolf, and Brooklyn didn’t lose any rhythm with him running alongside the starters. The No. 27 pick delivered again, posting six points, six rebounds and an assist in the period. Clowney returned with 3:27 left and closed the quarter with fellow bigs Wolf and Day’Ron Sharpe, and his steal and layup with two seconds remaining gave the Nets a 92-90 lead entering the fourth. Neither team led by more than five in the period.
After Dallas opened a five-point lead with 2:18 left, the Nets went scoreless until Wolf got to the line with 1:12 remaining and split his free throws to make it a four-point game. Porter then fouled P.J. Washington on the next defensive trip, and Washington converted both attempts to push the Mavericks’ lead back to six with 54.5 seconds left, matching their largest margin of the night.
Nic Claxton missed a bunny on Brooklyn’s next possession, and Terance Mann had to foul with the clock running down. Washington missed both free throws, giving the Nets another chance with 44.3 seconds left, but Mann air-balled a 3-pointer. Brooklyn still couldn’t capitalize after an untimely Dallas turnover, and that was the final opportunity they’d see.
Anthony Davis led Dallas with 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Flagg added 22 points, five rebounds and eight assists.
The Nets return to Barclays Center on Sunday to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
