DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 27 points and matched a season high with three steals, and Naji Marshall had three straight baskets down the stretch and finished with 22 points as the depleted Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 113-105 on Monday night.
The Mavericks (15-25) snapped a two-game skid. Klay Thompson scored 18 off the bench and matched a season high with six 3-pointers.
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Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson shoots a basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez talks to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy prepares to shoot a basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, left, guard D'Angelo Russell, center, and guard Ryan Nembhard react on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points and Day’Ron Sharpe had 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for the Nets (11-26), who have lost four consecutive games. They were swept in a road back-to-back, losing 103-98 at Memphis on Sunday.
Brooklyn cut a 14-point second-half deficit to 99-95 with five minutes left, but couldn’t get any closer.
Flagg rebounded after shooting 4 for 13 and scoring 11 points in Dallas' 125-17 loss at Chicago on Saturday.
Dallas’ Jaden Hardy, making his second start of the season, scored 11 of his 14 points in the first five minutes, including three of his four 3-pointers.
The Mavericks used three players on two-way contracts while missing four injured starters, including Anthony Davis (out indefinitely with ligament damage in his left hand suffered on Thursday) and P.J. Washington Jr. (missing his third straight game with an ankle injury).
Porter returned after sitting out Sunday’s game, while Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas and Egor Nemin were held out Monday after playing Sunday.
When the Mavericks beat the Nets 119-111 in Dallas on Dec. 12, there were 23 lead changes and 16 ties. On Monday night, there was one lead change and one tie.
Nets: At New Orleans on Wednesday.
Mavericks: Host Denver on Wednesday.
AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson shoots a basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez talks to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy prepares to shoot a basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, left, guard D'Angelo Russell, center, and guard Ryan Nembhard react on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Houston's stingy defense knocked Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the NFL playoffs, sending the Texans to the divisional round to complete wild-card weekend.
The Texans sacked Rodgers four times, scored two defensive touchdowns and held Pittsburgh to 175 yards in a 30-6 victory on Monday night. It was Houston's 10th straight win and the franchise's first on the road in the playoffs.
Mike Tomlin and the Steelers lost their seventh consecutive playoff game, and Rodgers may have played the last game of his Hall of Fame career.
Houston (13-5), the AFC's No. 5 seed, will face the No. 2 seed New England Patriots (15-3) next Sunday at 3 p.m. EST. The No. 2 seed Bears (12-6) will host the No. 5 seed Rams (13-5) in the second game Sunday.
The divisional round will kick off with the No. 6 seed Bills (13-5) at the No. 1 seed Broncos (14-3) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The No. 6 seed 49ers (13-5) will face the top-seeded Seahawks (14-3) in the night game.
In Sunday's wild-card games, Brock Purdy tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Christian McCaffrey with 2:54 remaining to lift the 49ers to a 23-19 comeback win at Philadelphia. McCaffrey also caught a 29-yard TD pass from wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
The Patriots sacked Justin Herbert six times and held Los Angeles to just 207 yards in a 16-3 win on Sunday night.
Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 27-24 comeback victory in Jacksonville in Sunday's first game. Allen scored on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter and Cole Bishop intercepted Trevor Lawrence's pass to secure Buffalo's first playoff win on the road since the 1992 AFC championship game at Miami.
On Saturday, the playoffs kicked off with two wacky games.
The Bears trailed the Green Bay Packers 21-3 at halftime and 27-16 with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter before Caleb Williams threw a pair of touchdown passes. His 25-yard TD toss to D.J. Moore put Chicago ahead 31-27 with 1:43 remaining. Then Jordan Love's desperation heave into the end zone from the Bears 28 was knocked down as time expired to secure Chicago's first playoff win since the 2010 season.
Williams finished with 361 yards passing, two TDs and two interceptions for the Bears.
In the opener on wild-card weekend, Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in the final minute and Los Angeles rallied to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 in a game that was much closer than expected.
The Rams were double-digit favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook against the Panthers (8-10). The Rams jumped to a 14-0 lead, but couldn’t take advantage of first-half turnovers and allowed Carolina to get within 17-14 at halftime.
Stafford, who earned All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career on Saturday, threw for 304 yards, three TDs and had one pick. Puka Nacua, who was a unanimous All-Pro selection, had 10 catches for 111 yards and one TD and also had a 5-yard TD run.
The Rams are back in the divisional round for the second straight season. Last year, they were 13 yards away from eliminating Philadelphia before a sack and an incomplete pass ended their season with a 28-22 loss.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97), linebacker Christian Elliss (53) and linebacker Robert Spillane (14) celebrate Williams' sack of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Dawson Knox (88) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams looks to throw during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams celebrates after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) reacts after a first down during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, center left, celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
