Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg are only a handful of games into sharing the floor, but the early chemistry is already hard to miss. The Mavericks’ new pairing is clicking in a way that looks cleaner than Irving ever did alongside Luka Doncic, and the reasons show up in all the little ways the game opens up around them.
Dallas has leaned into pace, and it’s paying off. The Mavericks are tied for fifth in the league with 18.7 fast-break points per game, and that speed suits both Irving and Flagg.
When they get loose in transition, the floor stretches fast, and defenses are forced into uncomfortable choices. That was on display Friday night in Dallas’ NBA Cup win over the Houston Rockets, when Flagg and Irving combined for 68 points.
The connection works because neither player is trying to dominate every possession in the same way. One sequence leads to a two-on-one and an easy layup.
Another has Flagg pushing the break and then kicking out to Irving for an open 3-pointer. The ball keeps moving, and the shot quality keeps improving.
That selfless rhythm is a big part of what makes this duo feel so natural.
Doncic, for all his brilliance, operated differently. His offense often leaned heavily into the half court, and when he wasn’t in rhythm, possessions could bog down. Irving and Flagg have been more fluid so far, with a style built around driving, kicking, and finding the best look for whoever has the edge.
They also bring similar scoring tools to the table. Both are ambidextrous three-level scorers who can create their own shot in isolation, but they’re also dangerous away from the ball as cutters. That gives Dallas more ways to attack without forcing the action through one player every time.
The defensive side matters too, especially for a 34-year-old Irving. Flagg gives the Mavericks something Doncic never consistently provided: a true defensive force.
Irving can still make smart plays on that end, but his size and age can leave him vulnerable at the point of attack. Flagg helps cover some of those gaps, and so do players like Zaccharie Risacher, who have been elite help-side defenders for the Mavs through six games.
That’s part of why this version of Dallas feels more balanced. Doncic was a net-negative defender during his time with the Mavericks, even if he had his moments, and that was a major factor in their loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals. It’s tough to win a championship when both of your top two players aren’t plus defenders, and Irving plus Flagg doesn’t come with that same problem.
It’s still early, and Dallas may be running a bit ahead of where its overall talent says it should be. But the first signs are encouraging.
Irving and Flagg look like a duo that can push the Mavericks back to the playoffs this season, even if they haven’t come close to matching the success Irving had with Doncic yet. The fit, though, is already looking smoother.
In Other News...
Cooper Flagg Just Drew The Kind Of Praise Mavericks Fans Dream About
Cooper Flaggs start to his second NBA season has already put him in the kind of conversation Mavericks fans love to hear, the one where a young star is judged not just by flashes, but by how complete his game looks. After a Rookie of the Year season in 2025-26, Flagg has opened 2026-27 averaging 26.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game, and the buzz around him has only grown as his impact has shown up in more than one area of the floor.
Max Kellerman added to that momentum with a strong endorsement, praising Flagg for the way he affects games without relying on a single defining trait. He compared Flagg favorably to NBA stars and pointed to the blend of scoring, playmaking and two-way value that has made the Mavericks forward such an early headline-grabber, the sort of player who can make a national analyst sound like he is already looking several years ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Closed The Book On A Beloved Veteran For One Clear Reason
Dwight Powells long run in Dallas came to an end this week, closing the book on a 12-year stretch that made him one of the franchises most familiar veterans. The Mavericks waived Powell after choosing not to make the kind of corresponding roster move that would have been needed to keep him in place, a decision that marked a clear break from the continuity he had provided for more than a decade.
Powell is not stepping away from basketball, though. After his release, he signed with Turkish club Fenerbahe to continue his professional career, giving him a new landing spot even as Dallas moves on without one of its longest-tenured players. For a team that has leaned on Powells steadiness for years, the departure leaves a notable gap in both the locker room and the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Hit Another Low After Celtics Loss As Frustration Boils Over
Opening night of the 2026 NBA Cup had no shortage of noise around the league, and Dallas had its own reason to feel good after taking care of Houston. The Mavericks got a 116-111 win over the Rockets, with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving combining for 68 points in a performance that fit the kind of early-season statement the team has been looking to make.
Elsewhere, the Bulls kept sliding with another loss, this time to the Celtics, as frustration around Chicago continued to build. Across the rest of the slate, the Warriors erased a big first-quarter hole to beat the Lakers behind Stephen Currys 31 points, Luka Doni poured in 37 in defeat, and Kevin Durant delivered a highlight dunk in Houstons loss, making Dallas result stand out as one of the cleaner wins on a busy night. [Read more 🡒]