What to Watch for in Nets vs. Mavericks

On Friday evening, the Brooklyn Nets will face off against the Dallas Mavericks, searching for their seventh win on the season.

Brooklyn has surprised of late, playing feisty defense under head coach Jordi Fernandez while Michael Porter Jr. continues to see career output offensively. The stretch has already hurt the team's odds at landing a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, though Fernandez and co. won't be worried with those results just yet.

The Mavericks have won four of five, and will be looking to continue their own hot streak against Brooklyn. Here are three things to watch for in tonight’s game:

The Nets Looked Improved

The Brooklyn Nets have won three out of four games, beating the Hornets, Bulls and Pelicans while holding teams to under 108 points per contest in that span.

While those teams aren’t juggernauts, it’s clear the Nets have looked a step above, winning all three by double-digits, and the Mavericks could certainly fit into that tier with just nine wins on the season.

Tonight could offer a real litmus test as to where Brooklyn stands competitively.

Cooper Flagg Finding his Footing

The NBA’s top pick in Cooper Flagg has re-taken the odds at becoming Rookie of the Year with a recent hot stretch, and it’s helped the Mavericks to wins lately. 

He scored 24, 22 and 24 in wins over the Rockets, Heat and Nuggets, respectively, and is looking more comfortable with each passing game.

The Nets have played great defense lately, both team and individual. Though the 6-foot-9 will present a real challenge for Brooklyn’s defenders.

Can Michael Porter Jr. Keep up his Production?

Since returning from a small hiatus due to a back injury, Michael Porter Jr. has seen one of the best short stint of his career, averaging a blistering 34.3 points per game , with 8.7 assists, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals across three games.

He’s been a huge part of the Nets’ recent success, looking more like an East All-Star than the former fourth-best running mate in Denver.

On the season, he’s now scoring just under 26 points per game on 50% shooting, and seems to be capable of handling the No. 1 scoring load.

The only question remaining is if he can keep it up as the season wears on.

The Nets and Mavericks tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT tonight from American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.