Nets win tight game, dent Mavs' play-in aspirations

The visiting Brooklyn Nets stunned the streaking Mavericks 113-109 in a back-and-forth thriller on Monday night, dealing a significant blow to Dallas' play-in tournament prospects.

With a win, the Mavericks (37-39) would have moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Kings for the 10th and final play-in spot. Instead, Dallas is now clinging to a half-game advantage for the coveted spot.

Keon Johnson led the way for Brooklyn (25-51) with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field. DeAngelo Russell added 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting in addition to 11 assists. Jalen Wilson chipped in 12 points, while Ziare Williams and Tyrese Martin each added 11. The Nets also secured consecutive wins for the first time since beating the Orlando Magic on Feb. 10 and the Washington Wizards on Feb. 12.

Daniel Gafford led the Mavericks in scoring with 17 points in his return from a knee injury suffered against the Kings on Feb. 10. Gafford made 7-of-9 attempts from the field, pacing a starting five that saw each player score more than 10 points but less than 20.

Russell gave Brooklyn the lead for good with 1:16 remaining, converting a crafty and-one before burying the free throw to put the Nets ahead 108-107. Russell then found Nic Claxton in the post on the Nets' ensuing possession, allowing Claxton to convert a three-point play of his own to stretch Brooklyn's lead to 111-108.

The game took its first major turn at the conclusion of the third quarter. Tied at 84-all, Jaden Hardy buried a deep triple to give the Mavericks a three-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Dallas continued its momentum with a 7-0 run to start the fourth, taking a 98-88 lead on a Hardy lay-in with 8:04 remaining.

Brooklyn immediately answered Dallas with a 12-0 surge punctuated by a slam from Johnson that put the Nets back ahead 100-98 with 4:31 left in regulation. Not to be outdone, Gafford tied the game again at 100 with a monster slam of his own. The dunks kickstarted a back-and-forth between the teams that lasted until Claxton's and-one.