The Houston Rockets had this one in hand late in the third quarter. Then the Dallas Mavericks hit the accelerator, ripped away the momentum, and walked out with a 116-111 NBA Cup win that handed Houston its first loss of the 2026-27 regular season.
Dallas improved to 4-2 and stretched its winning streak to three games, fueled by a huge finishing kick from Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg. The pair combined for 68 points, and when the game got tight, they were the ones who owned the moment.
Irving was the engine of the comeback. He finished with 35 points, four rebounds and nine assists, shooting 12-for-19 from the field and 5-for-8 from three.
Sixteen of those points came in the fourth quarter, where Dallas completely flipped the script. Flagg wasn’t far behind, posting 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists, with 11 of his own in the final period.
He put the game away with less than 30 seconds left.
That closing surge helped the Mavericks win the fourth quarter 40-27 and erase an 11-point Houston lead from earlier in the third.
Dallas also got timely support from the rest of the roster, especially from beyond the arc. The Mavericks went 12-for-33 from three, while the Rockets struggled to keep pace at 7-for-29. Zaccharie Risacher and Caleb Martin gave Dallas exactly the kind of perimeter lift that matters when defenses load up on the stars, with Risacher going 3-for-6 from deep and Martin knocking down 2-for-3.
The paint told a similar story. With Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams out, Houston didn’t have enough size to keep Daniel Gafford from making an impact.
He finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks on 6-for-7 shooting. Eight of those points came in the fourth quarter, and his work on the offensive glass helped Dallas protect its lead when the Rockets were trying to claw back.
Houston also left points at the line. Kevin Durant scored 28 points, added five rebounds and one assist, and led the Rockets in scoring, but he missed four free throws as Houston finished with nine misses from the stripe overall. Durant shot 9-for-20 from the floor and 1-for-6 from three.
The loss doesn’t define Houston’s season, but it did expose two problems Dallas was ready to punish: shaky perimeter shooting and late-game execution. The teams are scheduled to meet at least two more times in the regular season this January, including on New Year’s Day 2027, when the Mavericks will get another chance to prove this wasn’t a one-night burst.
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Mavericks Finally Answered Houston With The Kind Of Win Fans Needed
The Mavericks finally got the response they were looking for at American Airlines Center, outlasting the Rockets 116-111 and handing Houston its first loss of the season. It was the kind of win Dallas needed after a rocky stretch, with Kyrie Irving taking control and Cooper Flagg giving the home crowd plenty to cheer about in a game that had the feel of an early measuring stick.
Irving poured in a season-high 35 points, while Flagg added 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a performance that showed just how much Dallas can lean on its top-end talent when the pressure rises. Houston still had its chances behind Kevin Durants 28 points, but the late moments tilted Dallas way, and the Mavericks also had to navigate a tense finish with Daniel Gafford battling through a rolled ankle. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]