Nets player grades: Keon Johnson drops 24 in 113-109 win at Mavericks

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The Brooklyn Nets (25-51) were coming off one of their more exciting wins after Saturday's win at the Washington Wizards and they were hoping that they could keep the good times rolling on their road trip. Brooklyn still had to take care of business on Monday at the Dallas Mavericks (37-39) and while Dallas made them work for it, the Nets made the plays needed to close out the win.

The Nets beat the Mavericks 113-109 despite trailing by as many as 10 points in a game that looked like it was getting away from them in the fourth quarter. Keon Johnson led the way for Brooklyn with 24 points and three assists while D'Angelo Russell had one of his best games of the season with 18 points, five rebounds, and 11 assists against a formidable Dallas team.

The Mavericks had six players score in double figures, but when a shot needed to made, nobody on Dallas' roster could get the job done in crunch time and the Nets were able to come away victorious as a result. Here are the Nets player grades following Monday's win at the Mavericks:

D'Angelo Russell: A+​

Russell returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's win at the Wizards and he looked like he had some good rest for that troublesome right ankle of his. Part of the reason that Russell played so well in addition to his improved energy level was due to how well he was shooting the ball, especially from three-point range. Russell also had a great all-around game with the way that he was passing the ball and putting in more of an effort on the glass.

Keon Johnson: A​

Johnson had one of his best games of the season despite not being able to get himself going from three-point range due to how well he played overall. Johnson did a great job of getting to the rim within the half-court and in transition and once he gets going there, the rest of his game opens up. Johnson did a good job of passing the ball without turning it over and his game is starting to mature.

Jalen Wilson: B+​

Wilson drew the start with Cam Johnson unable to play with his lower back contusion and the former Kansas Jayhawk played well in front of his home crowd. Wilson, who was born in Arlington, Texas, did a good job of scoring the ball and he even showed some of his ability to contort his body one way while shooting the other way to throw off his defender.

Ziaire Williams: B​

Williams did a good job of scoring the ball overall even though he had his struggles shooting from three-point land over the course of the game. Williams has been playing with a lot of confidence recently and it is showing in the way that he's processing the game and trusting himself to take certain shots. Williams played some solid defense when he was able to guard his defender one-on-one as he moved his feet well.

Nic Claxton: B-​

Claxton was not involved at all on the offensive end of the floor for Brooklyn as players like Keon Johnson and D'Angelo Russell were having their way. Claxton has had better days finishing around the rim, but the Nets can accept that as long as he is putting in the kind of effort on the boards and on the defensive end like he did in this one. Claxton was sometimes left on an island to guard Anthony Davis and he had his own.

Trendon Watford: C+​

Watford did not have his sharpest game shooting the ball as he had no luck finishing around the rim with the amount of big bodies that the Mavericks were able to keep on the floor between Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Kai Jones. Watford has also had better days creating for his teammates, but he noticeably gave more of an effort on the boards and on the defensive end.

Drew Timme: B-​

Timme was once again thrown into the fire as the center backing up Nic Claxton and he played some basketball against some formidable frontcourt players on Dallas' roster. Timme was not particularly efficient shooting the three-point shot, but his role on the team is to score in the paint and at the rim and he did both very well. While Timme dealt with some foul trouble, he also showed how competitive he is on the defensive end of the floor, especially going right at Anthony Davis without worrying about help.

Dariq Whitehead: C+​

Whitehead saw more playing time with the Nets now that the season is coming to a close and he displayed his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter under duress along with some bounce in transition. Part of what Brooklyn has been hoping to see from Whitehead is that he is recovered enough from his injuries to show the athletic pop that made him one of the top players in his recruiting class and it looks like he's getting better.

Maxwell Lewis: C+​

Lewis did a solid job of shooting the ball from three-point land in this one and while Lewis' overall shooting left something to be desired, his confidence never wavering has been impressive to watch for a young player. Lewis is one of the more interesting players on the roster given how he uses his athleticism to get to his spots on the floor in unique ways.

Tyrese Martin: B+​

Martin impressed on Saturday at the Wizards and he continued that kind of production against the Mavericks with his shooting and his vision being put on full display. Martin has had an eventful season with the milestones that he has achieved and that is due to the work that he has put in, especially being put in a position to play some point guard for a Brooklyn team looking for creators. Martin continues to show what he should remain on the roster.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets player grades: Keon Johnson drops 24 in 113-109 win at Mavericks

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