Winning feels a lot better than losing. Honestly, after the rough patch the Big D has been through lately, last night felt like a collective exhale for North Texas sports fans. If you were looking for the dallas score last night, you actually got a double dose of good news across the NBA and NHL.
The Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars both suited up on Monday, January 12, 2026, and both walked off the floor (and ice) with much-needed victories. It wasn't just about the wins, though. It was how they happened. We saw a rookie phenom continue to prove he's the real deal and a hockey team finally finding its defensive teeth again.
The Mavericks Score Last Night: Cooper Flagg Takes Over
The energy at the American Airlines Center was kind of electric, which is wild considering how "depleted" this roster looks on paper right now. The Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 113-105.
It was a gritty performance. No Anthony Davis. No P.J. Washington Jr. When you're missing that kind of frontcourt depth, you usually expect to get bullied in the paint. But Cooper Flagg had other plans. The rookie put up 27 points and looked every bit like the cornerstone the franchise is betting on. He matched a season-high with three steals, playing with a defensive motor that honestly makes him look like a ten-year vet.
Breaking Down the Mavs' Numbers
- Final Score: Mavericks 113, Nets 105
- The Standout: Cooper Flagg (27 PTS, 3 STL)
- The Support: Naji Marshall came alive late, hitting three straight buckets in the "clutch" window to finish with 22.
- The Sniper: Klay Thompson found his rhythm off the bench, knocking down six 3-pointers for 18 points.
The Nets didn't go away quietly. Michael Porter Jr. was a problem all night, dropping 28, but Brooklyn just couldn't close the gap in the final five minutes. After Brooklyn cut a 14-point lead down to four, the Mavs' "next man up" mentality actually worked. Jaden Hardy got the start and basically caught fire in the first five minutes, scoring 11 of his 14 points right out of the gate. It's those kinds of bursts that keep a short-handed team afloat.
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Dallas Stars Score Last Night: A Late Surge in L.A.
While the Mavs were holding court at home, the Stars were out in Los Angeles taking care of business against the Kings. This one was a bit of a nail-biter. For a long time, it looked like a classic goalie duel between Jake Oettinger and Darcy Kuemper.
The Stars ended up winning 3-1, but the score makes it look a little more comfortable than it actually was. Jason Robertson—who else, right?—broke a 1-1 tie with under four minutes left in the game. It was a weird one. He was trying to zip a pass across the middle, the puck wobbled, hit Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson, and just sort of trickled in. We've seen Robertson have prettier goals, but they all count the same in the standings.
Key Takeaways from the Stars Win
The defense finally looked cohesive. After a season-worst six-game winless streak recently, Dallas has now won two of their last three. Wyatt Johnston reached the 25-goal mark for the third straight season, which is honestly absurd for a guy his age.
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- Final Score: Stars 3, Kings 1
- Netminding: Jake Oettinger was solid, stopping 24 of 25 shots.
- Milestone Alert: Corey Perry, playing for the Kings now at age 40, grabbed his 500th career assist. He's the first player in NHL history to hit that milestone at 40.
Jamie Benn was back in the lineup after missing three games with a nasty cut on his nose. Interestingly, the 17-year veteran wore a visor for the first time in 1,216 career games. It’s a small detail, but for a "no-visor" guy like Benn, it’s a big change.
What Happened to the Cowboys?
If you were looking for a dallas score last night involving the gridiron, you're a week late or looking at the wrong year. The Cowboys' season ended on January 4, 2026, with a pretty demoralizing 34-17 loss to the New York Giants.
They finished the year 7-9-1. It was a messy end to a season that started with high hopes but dissolved into injuries and inconsistent play. While the rest of the NFL is currently deep in the playoffs—like the 49ers knocking out the Eagles or the Texans thumping the Steelers—the Cowboys are already in "evaluation mode" for the draft.
Making Sense of the Results
So, why do these scores matter? For the Mavericks, it’s about survival. They are 15-25 right now. That’s not where anyone wanted to be, but with the injury bug biting as hard as it has, every win without Anthony Davis is a massive "W" for morale. Cooper Flagg is proving that even if the record is ugly, the future is bright.
For the Stars, it’s about positioning. The Western Conference is a meat grinder. Getting points on the road in Los Angeles is how you secure home-ice advantage come April.
If you're tracking these teams, here is what you need to do next:
- Watch the Injury Reports: The Mavericks' success hinges entirely on when AD and P.J. Washington Jr. return. If they can stay .500 while those guys are out, they have a play-in shot.
- Monitor Robertson's Streak: When "Robo" is scoring, the Stars win. It's that simple.
- Check the Wednesday Schedule: Both teams are back in action soon. The Mavs host Denver, and the Nets head to New Orleans.
The dallas score last night might just be the turning point both these franchises needed to shake off a cold December and start 2026 on the right foot.