Kyrie Irving took over when Dallas needed it most, and Cooper Flagg delivered the kind of late-game shot-making that closed the door on Houston. That combination carried the Mavericks to a 116-111 win Friday night at American Airlines Center, giving Dallas its third straight victory and handing the Rockets their first loss of the season.
Irving finished with a season-high 35 points, while Flagg added 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Mavericks moved to 4-2 and picked up their first NBA Cup win in West Group A. Houston, which entered at 5-0, came in with the league’s top defense and left with its first defeat.
Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 28 points, though two missed free throws in crunch time loomed large. Dallas also got timely help from Daniel Gafford, who played through a rolled ankle in the final minute of the fourth quarter and still had enough left to help finish the job at the line.
The closing sequence got a little chaotic. Flagg buried a turnaround floater to put Dallas up four with 24 seconds left, Houston answered with a 3-pointer, and then the Mavericks sealed it with free throws from Gafford and Irving. Amen Thompson was called for a lane violation while trying to intentionally miss a free throw with Houston down two, and Marcus Smart’s away-from-the-play foul gave Dallas an extra chance to put it away.
This one turned into a far different night than the season opener on Oct. 21, when Houston ran Dallas out of the building with a 38-12 second quarter. On Friday, the Mavericks controlled the early pace instead, jumping out to a seven-point lead after the first quarter by shooting 62 percent from the field. Flagg was right in the middle of it, making his first five shots and scoring 12 in the opening period.
Houston answered in the second quarter with more force. The Rockets outscored Dallas 31-17, turned up the physicality and took a 51-44 lead into halftime. Dallas still managed to get out in transition, but it also had 12 turnovers by the break.
“Obviously, their toughness is off the charts,” Mavs coach Dusty May said pregame. “They’ve built a roster of size, strength, athleticism, but also the ability to get to [the] basketball.
When you start talking about Jabari Smith and [Amen] Thompson and KD, those are big, long, rangy athletes that are aggressive. And you’re not even talking about Fred [VanVleet], who’s one of the best steals guys in the league, and Marcus Smart, who’s just a hawk on the ball.”
Dallas made a key adjustment in the rematch by winning the transition battle, finishing with 28 fast-break points while holding Houston to 10. That was a major focus after the Rockets had done so much damage in the teams’ previous meeting.
Durant had a highlight-reel dunk in the third quarter, but Dallas kept grinding and entered the fourth down 84-76. That was a much smaller hole than the one they faced in the opener, when Houston had already stretched the margin to 37 points by that stage.
Then Irving went to work. He scored seven straight points to pull the Mavericks within one at 8:29 of the fourth quarter. Caleb Martin followed with a corner 3 to tie it at 88, and Irving later forced a Houston timeout with another triple that gave Dallas its first lead of the second half.
Houston kept hanging around. With 4:20 left, a second-chance possession ended with Fred VanVleet drilling a 3-pointer to tie the game, part of a night in which the Rockets piled up 17 second-chance points. Dallas answered with back-to-back baskets and held a narrow edge from there.
Flagg then turned a Durant miss at the free-throw line into a three-point play, pushing Dallas ahead by five with 1:40 remaining. Gafford’s ankle scare came shortly after, but he returned quickly enough to help preserve the lead. On Houston’s next push, Thompson’s drive into Irving was initially called an offensive foul before replay changed it to a blocking foul, and Thompson missed both free throws that followed.
Dallas now heads into Monday’s game against the winless Sacramento Kings with momentum in tow. Houston, meanwhile, returns home for the second half of a back-to-back to face the injury-riddled Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
In Other News...
Zaccharie Risacher Is Giving The Mavericks Something They Suddenly Need
Zaccharie Risacher has given the Mavericks a jolt on the defensive end early this season, the kind of wing presence that can change the feel of a second unit. His activity has stood out in the box score and on film, and Dallas has also liked what it has seen from his offensive efficiency, especially when he is spotting up and letting the shot come to him. Teammates and coaches have noticed the energy, effort and buy-in, which matters for a roster trying to find reliable two-way minutes wherever it can.
Risachers early impact is especially important because the Mavericks are looking for more stability from their bench, and he has already started to carve out a useful role. The organization has clearly seen enough to invest in his future, a sign that this stretch is being viewed as more than a hot start. For now, the bigger question is how far his development can go from here, and whether the current version is only the beginning of a more complete player. [Read more 🡒]
Dwight Powells Next Move Will Hit Mavericks Fans Hard
Dwight Powells next chapter is taking shape overseas, and for Mavericks fans it comes with a little extra sting. After Dallas waived the longtime big man before the regular season, Powell is now moving toward a new opportunity with Fenerbahce, one of the EuroLeagues more established powers based in Istanbul.
Powell spent nearly his entire 12-year NBA career in Dallas, becoming one of the most familiar faces of the franchise over that stretch. Fenerbahce also offers a high-level stage, with a roster that includes several former NBA players, but the move marks a major change for a veteran who built his reputation in Dallas and is now set for a very different kind of basketball environment. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Have A Big Chance To Prove Their Early Surge Is Real
The Mavericks head into this matchup with a little more momentum than they had a week ago, and this one offers a useful measuring stick. Dallas has back-to-back wins over the Heat and Thunder, a stretch that has helped steady the tone around the team and given it a chance to show the early surge was not just a short burst of good shooting or favorable scheduling.
Houston arrives with its own strong start intact, but the injury picture adds another layer to the night. Alperen Sengun is a name to watch, and his status could shape how the Rockets approach the game if he is limited or unavailable. For Dallas, the opportunity is obvious: beat a team that has looked sharp early and keep building a case that this run is something more durable. [Read more 🡒]