By the Associated Press
DALLAS — With Luka Doncic resting and Dallas' other two top scorers out with injuries, Seth Curry kept the Mavericks even with Brooklyn until the 20-year-old phenom could take over again.
Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) attempts a shot as Brooklyn Nets guards Dzanan Musa (13) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (9) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Curry scored 15 of his 25 points with Doncic sitting the last half of the third quarter, before the 2019 Rookie of the Year had 15 of his 31 in the fourth as the Mavericks pulled away for a 123-111 victory over the Nets on Thursday night.
Dallas avoided its first three-game losing streak of the season in the second straight game without 7-foot-3 forward Kristaps Porzingis and shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who together have been good for about 30 points a night.
Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) celebrates a 3-point shot during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Curry made all five of his 3-pointers and was 9 of 13 overall in the fourth game with at least 20 points this season for the younger brother of Stephen Curry.
"A lot of guys can make plays and we never know who's going to get the touches or the shots that night other than Luka," Curry said. "It's fun to play. Every night it seems like somebody different is making a big impact."
Maxi Kleber scored a season-high 18 points, making his first three 3-pointers and finishing 3 of 4 as the Mavericks shot 46% from long range (18 of 29) to open a six-game homestand, their longest of the season.
Doncic remained tied with Jason Kidd for the franchise record for triple-doubles in one season with nine. That's in part because he had seven assists while taking more of the scoring load. Doncic had a game-high 13 rebounds.
Porzingis is nursing a sore right knee — not the one he injured in what ended up being his final game for the Knicks almost two years ago — and Hardaway is working back from a hamstring strain.
Spencer Dinwiddie led seven Brooklyn players in double figures with 19 points, but the Nets shot 33% while getting outscored 30-18 in the fourth quarter and losing their fourth straight game for the first time this season.
"We didn't get a stop," Dinwiddie said. "Obviously, that's what kind of ballooned their lead and we obviously didn't make enough shots to keep pace."
Doncic started a decisive 13-4 run with a 3-pointer midway though the fourth quarter and capped it with layup for a 116-104 lead with 3:48 remaining.
Curry replaced Doncic midway through the third and made five of six shots, including all three of his 3s.
"The style we play offensively is very empowered to the players," coach Rick Carlisle said. "When you get a guy like Seth that's hot, they just need to find him."
Brooklyn's Dzanan Musa scored a career-high 14 points. Taurean Prince, Joe Harris, Wilson Chandler and Theo Pinson had 11 apiece.