Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks Takeaways and Grades

The Brooklyn Nets took on the Dallas Mavericks in a Sunday matinee. Brooklyn fought back after an early deficit, but was unable to stop a frisky Dallas squad.

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Team Stats

Field goal shooting/percentage

• Nets: 31-72 (43.1%)
• Mavericks: 41-76 (53.9%)

Three-point shooting/percentage

• Nets: 13-31 (41.9%)
• Mavericks: 10-25 (40.0%)

Rebounds

• Nets: 41
• Mavericks: 33

Assists

• Nets: 16
• Mavericks: 20

Steals

• Nets: 2
• Mavericks: 8

Blocks

• Nets: 1
• Mavericks: 3

Turnovers

• Nets: 15
• Mavericks: 10

Fouls

• Nets: 22
• Mavericks: 24

Free throws

• Nets: 29-38
• Mavericks: 19-25

Points in paint

• Nets: 24
• Mavericks: 28

Fast break points

• Nets: 9
• Mavericks: 0

Bench points

• Nets: 51
• Mavericks: 38

Largest lead

• Nets: Nets never led =(
• Mavericks: 18

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Key Plays

The Nets looked sluggish early in the first half, trailing by as many as 11 to Dallas. Brooklyn’s starters played sluggishly, missing clean looks and having defensive lapses. But the bench closed the deficit, led by K.J. McDaniels, who scored eight points with two threes. They closed the deficit to six by the end of the first quarter. Also in that quarter, Jeremy Lin landed awkwardly off a shot, ending his game early. But the Nets couldn’t keep up the pace, entering a drought again in the second. Harrison Barnes and Yogi Ferrell sliced up the Nets’ defense with their activity and strong shooting. It was a “mostly sleepy second half,” according to Ryan Ruocco, as the Nets ended the first half down 57-43.

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The Nets struck back in the third quarter, bringing the lead to single digits with nine minutes left after a Rondae Hollis-Jefferson turnaround jumper. Caris LeVert showed effort, scoring on drives and playing solid defense. The Nets really scared the Mavericks after two strong plays from Brook Lopez, where he threw down a nasty dunk, and followed it up with a deep three on the next play.

But Dallas went on a 7-0 run to quickly bring the lead back to ten towards the end of the third. Lopez scored 12 points in the third, but the Nets still saw themselves down 82-72 at the end of three.

Early in the fourth, Brooklyn traded buckets with the Mavs. Brooklyn saw some nice drives from Spencer Dinwiddie, who was matched up against the man he replaced, Yogi Ferrell. Lopez continued to play well, scoring from deep and driving against the Dallas D. J.J. Barea played well in the second half, with baskets that quieted the Brooklyn crowd. That included nine straight points to extend the Dallas lead to seven with two minutes left in the game. Brooklyn was lifted by Randy Foye on offense, but Barnes scored two clutch baskets with less than one minute left to seal the game for Dallas.

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Top Performers

Brooklyn Nets

• Brook Lopez: 27 points, 7 rebounds
• Spencer Dinwiddie: 18 points, 7 assists

Dallas Mavericks

• J.J. Barea: 20 points, 7 assists, 2 steals
• Dirk Nowitzki: 23 points, 9 rebounds