DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Ryan Nembhard #9 of the Dallas Mavericks walks backcourt during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center on April 12, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement.

Nembhard breaks Kidd's Mavs rookie record with 23 dimes in rout of Bulls

The Associated Press

18 days ago

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

DALLAS (AP) — Ryan Nembhard broke Dallas coach Jason Kidd's club rookie record with 23 assists after No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg's debut season ended with an ankle injury, and the Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 149-128 in a season finale Sunday night.

RYAN NEMBHARD DROPPED 23 ASSISTS 🤯

15 PTS
9 REB
23 AST (Mavs rookie record)
2 STL

The previous Mavericks rookie record for most assists in a game was 17, set by Nembhard's coach, Jason Kidd, on March 13, 1995! pic.twitter.com/0r88IEEnwn
— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2026

John Poulakidas scored 28 points to lead the Mavericks in a meeting of also-rans that more closely resembled a summer league game. Moussa Cisse had 17 points and 20 rebounds, which tied Roy Tarpley's rookie club record from 1986-87.

Flagg scored 10 points in 10 minutes before exiting with a sprained left ankle in the second quarter. The 19-year-old Rookie of the Year contender finished the season averaging 21.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 70 games.

Rob Dillingham scored 25 points for the Bulls, who head into an uncertain offseason looking for a new head of basketball operations and a decision on the future of coach Billy Donovan. CEO Michael Reinsdorf has said he wants Donovan to return.

Chicago (31-51) finished with the ninth-worst record going into the lottery. Dallas (26-56) started the day tied with Memphis for the sixth-worst mark but finished a game ahead of the Grizzlies.

Tyler Smith and AJ Johnson scored 20 points apiece for Dallas as both teams had eight players in double figures, including all nine who came off the bench.

Nembhard, who scored 15 points, set a franchise record for assists in a regulation game and fell two shy of Kidd's club mark of 25 in a two-overtime game in February 1996. Kidd's rookie record was 17 in 1994-95.

The Mavericks led 45-34 after their highest-scoring quarter of the season in the first and 80-56 following their most prolific half of the season.

Dwight Powell made the 12th start of what could be the last of 11-plus seasons with the Mavericks, finishing with seven points and 12 rebounds. The 34-year-old Canadian was a rookie when he was part of the trade that brought Rajon Rondo to Dallas from Boston during the 2014-15 season.

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