The Heat came into Dallas short-handed but still found themselves within striking distance late, only to watch the game slip away in the final minutes. Miami clawed back from a 17-point halftime hole and briefly had the Mavericks sweating, but a late push from rookie Cooper Flagg and a rejuvenated Anthony Davis sealed a 118-108 Dallas win. Flagg led the charge with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while Davis, finally cleared to play in consecutive games, added 17 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks in one of his most dominant all-around performances since returning from a calf strain.
Dallas also rode another strong night from undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard, who controlled the pace from the moment he checked in. Coming off a 28-point outburst against Denver, he didn’t need to score big this time; instead, he orchestrated the offense, piling up 15 points, 13 assists, and a perfect 3-for-3 mark from deep during a decisive second-quarter stretch that turned the game for good. Miami got big nights from Kel’el Ware (22 points, 10 rebounds), Bam Adebayo (21 points), and Tyler Herro (20 points), but Herro’s scoreless second half and the absence of leading scorer Norman Powell left them searching for one more reliable option. In the end, Dallas’ shot-making, 50% from three, and its late-game composure proved too much for a Heat team still struggling to stay healthy.
Miami’s Three Standouts Weren’t Enough
Miami didn’t lose this game for lack of top-end production. Kel’el Ware, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro combined for 63 points on 27-of-47 shooting, each carrying the offense at different times. Ware was arguably the story for Miami, 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting, 10 rebounds, four offensive boards, and even four made threes. Adebayo was steady throughout with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and a late basket that cut the deficit to four with three minutes left. And Herro lit up the first half with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, repeatedly finding gaps in Dallas’ coverage.
But despite that trio’s output, the Heat simply couldn’t find consistent help elsewhere. Their remaining nine players shot a combined 17-for-54, and Miami finished at only 40% from the field and 30% from deep (11-for-37). Herro’s disappearance after halftime, 0 points on 0-for-5 shooting, left Miami without a perimeter engine, and Andrew Wiggins’ 4-for-18 night stopped several possessions cold. When Dallas tightened defensively in the fourth quarter, Miami’s offense had nowhere else to turn, and the Mavericks capitalized.
Dallas Won Battles That Mattered
Dallas didn’t just shoot well, they shot comfortably well. The Mavericks finished at 51% from the floor and a blistering 50% from three (16-for-32), becoming the latest team to punish Miami’s perimeter coverage. Cooper Flagg and Klay Thompson combined for seven triples, Max Christie added two, and Nembhard’s three makes during a three-minute burst broke the game open. Even Anthony Davis hit two from deep, giving Miami’s defense fits whenever they tried packing the paint.
They also controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 50-41, which mattered more than the raw numbers suggest. Dallas snagged 40 defensive rebounds, repeatedly shutting down Miami’s second-chance opportunities despite the Heat pulling in 14 offensive boards. Every time Miami made a run, Dallas answered with a clean defensive possession or a timely transition push, which helped the Mavericks outscore Miami 19-14 on the break. Add in 31 assists on 46 made shots, and Dallas essentially put on a clinic in shot quality and ball movement.
Ryan Nembhard Changes The Identity Of This Dallas Team
What Nembhard is giving Dallas isn’t normal production for an undrafted rookie starting his first handful of NBA games. His feel for tempo stood out again: 15 points, 13 assists, and just one turnover in 34 minutes. He repeatedly put Miami’s defense in rotation, especially in the second quarter when he scored nine straight on three triples and assisted on two more scoring possessions. His 13 assists were more than the combined total of Miami’s starting backcourt (five).
But the real impact showed up in how comfortable Dallas looked with him steering the offense. Kyrie may be out, but Nembhard has kept the offense humming at over 120 points per game during this three-game win streak. His ability to get Davis easy looks, AD scored eight of Dallas’ final points, giving the Mavericks a stabilizer late when Miami pulled within four. If this level of play continues, Dallas may have stumbled into an unexpected long-term solution at point guard, and the rest of the roster is already benefiting from the clarity he brings.
