The Brooklyn Nets (25-51) were coming off one of their more exciting wins after Saturday's win at the Washington Wizards and they were hoping that they could keep the good times rolling on their road trip. Brooklyn still had to take care of business on Monday at the Dallas Mavericks (37-39) and while Dallas made them work for it, the Nets made the plays needed to close out the win.
The Nets beat the Mavericks 113-109 despite trailing by as many as 10 points in a game that looked like it was getting away from them in the fourth quarter. Keon Johnson led the way for Brooklyn with 24 points and three assists while D'Angelo Russell had one of his best games of the season with 18 points, five rebounds, and 11 assists against a formidable Dallas team.
The Mavericks had six players score in double figures, but when a shot needed to made, nobody on Dallas' roster could get the job done in crunch time and the Nets were able to come away victorious as a result. Here are the Nets player grades following Monday's win at the Mavericks:
D'Angelo Russell: A+
Russell returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's win at the Wizards and he looked like he had some good rest for that troublesome right ankle of his. Part of the reason that Russell played so well in addition to his improved energy level was due to how well he was shooting the ball, especially from three-point range. Russell also had a great all-around game with the way that he was passing the ball and putting in more of an effort on the glass.
Keon Johnson: A
Johnson had one of his best games of the season despite not being able to get himself going from three-point range due to how well he played overall. Johnson did a great job of getting to the rim within the half-court and in transition and once he gets going there, the rest of his game opens up. Johnson did a good job of passing the ball without turning it over and his game is starting to mature.
Jalen Wilson: B+
Wilson drew the start with Cam Johnson unable to play with his lower back contusion and the former Kansas Jayhawk played well in front of his home crowd. Wilson, who was born in Arlington, Texas, did a good job of scoring the ball and he even showed some of his ability to contort his body one way while shooting the other way to throw off his defender.
Ziaire Williams: B
Williams did a good job of scoring the ball overall even though he had his struggles shooting from three-point land over the course of the game. Williams has been playing with a lot of confidence recently and it is showing in the way that he's processing the game and trusting himself to take certain shots. Williams ...
