DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks turned their season finale into a historic showcase Sunday night, overwhelming the Chicago Bulls 149-128 at American Airlines Center with one of the most prolific scoring performances in franchise history.
Dallas matched its highest point total ever in a regulation game, erupting for 80 points before halftime and setting the tone early with a 45-point opening quarter — its best scoring period of the season. The Mavericks buried 22 3-pointers, their top mark of the year, as the offense never let up.
The night belonged to rookie guard Ryan Nembhard, who delivered a record-setting performance. Nembhard dished out 23 assists — the most ever by a Maverick in a regulation game — while adding 15 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double. His playmaking also etched his name into NBA history, tying for the fourth-most assists by a rookie in a single game.
Dallas saw contributions across the board. John Poulakidas erupted off the bench for a career-high 28 points, drilling eight shots from beyond the arc. Moussa Cisse dominated inside with 17 points and a career-best 20 rebounds, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to post a 15-point, 20-rebound game. AJ Johnson added a career-high-tying 20 points, continuing his late-season surge.
Veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson added to his legacy, knocking down four 3-pointers to surpass 200 triples on the season — the 11th time he has reached that milestone, second only to Stephen Curry. Thompson also climbed into the top 100 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, passing Hall of Famer Kevin McHale.
Rookie standout Cooper Flagg saw his night cut short by a left ankle sprain in the second quarter but still finished with 10 points and four rebounds. Despite the early exit, Flagg capped off a remarkable debut season, leading Dallas in points, rebounds, assists and steals — becoming the first rookie to do so since Michael Jordan.
Chicago was paced by Rob Dillingham, who scored 25 points and handed out five assists, while Lachlan Olbrich pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds. But the Bulls couldn’t keep pace with Dallas’ relentless tempo and shot-making.
The Mavericks also controlled the glass, finishing with 57 rebounds to match one of their top efforts of the season.
While both teams entered the night out of playoff contention, Dallas ensured its finale would be remembered — closing a difficult campaign with a performance that highlighted its young core and offensive potential heading into the offseason.
