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Flagg's 1,607 points through 75 games trail only Luka Dončić in franchise history, and his late jumper put Dallas up four with 24.3 seconds left.
Irving played 34:53 after averaging 27 minutes through four games, and he pushed his career-best free-throw streak to 55 straight makes.
The Dallas Mavericks (4‑2) edged the previously unbeaten Houston Rockets (5‑1) 116‑111 at the American Airlines Center on Oct. 30, 2026. Kyrie Irving led the comeback with 35 points and 9 assists, while 19‑year‑old Cooper Flagg added 33 points in the fourth quarter. Coach Dusty May praised the team’s depth, rebounding, and reduced turnovers, highlighting contributions from Dereck Lively, Gafford’s blocks, and Caleb Martin’s return from injury. The win signals a promising start for a young, character‑rich Mavericks squad heading into the 2026‑27 season.
The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) snap the Houston Rockets' (5-1) perfect start with a 116-111 Emirates Cup win, highlighted by A+ grades for Cooper Flagg (33 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) and Kyrie Irving (35 points, 9 assists). Irving, back from injury, shoots 12‑of‑19 and clinches the game with free throws, while Flagg dominates the paint despite three turnovers. Daniel Gafford adds 18 points on 6‑of‑7 shooting, and P.J. Washington grabs a double‑digit rebound total. The performance marks the Mavericks' second upset of an unbeaten team in as many games, showcasing Dusty May’s system and a fun, competitive vibe.
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, fresh off a 33‑point, nine‑rebound showing against the Houston Rockets and already in Rookie‑of‑the‑Year conversations, became the focus of a heated debate after former Mav Charlie Villanueva claimed on the To The Baha podcast that a white player couldn’t be the NBA’s face in 2026. The remark sparked a social‑media firestorm, with Michael Jordan’s ex‑teammate Ron Harper firing back with a terse “Why” and defending Flagg’s marketability. Despite the controversy, Flagg’s stats—25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists per game and a historic 750‑point/150‑assist/50‑steal/30‑block start—place him alongside Michael Jordan and Ron Harper Sr. as one of the league’s most promising young stars.
Kyrie Irving and 19‑year‑old rookie Cooper Flagg spark a 116‑111 comeback win for the Dallas Mavericks over the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21, 2026. Irving leads the veteran squad with 35 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists, while Flagg contributes 33 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, showcasing the chemistry the duo has developed under coach Jason Kidd. The victory, highlighted by Flagg’s rapid rise after filling in for Irving, cements Dallas as an exciting team to watch as the season unfolds.
The Rockets face a rested Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. CT, with Houston playing back‑to‑back after a recent game and the Thunder coming off a day off. Both squads are shorthanded: Houston lists Alperen Şengün (questionable), Steven Adams (out), Marcus Smart, Reed Sheppard and Fred VanVleet (questionable, back‑to‑back) as doubtful; OKC has Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Nikola Tičić, Thomas Sorber and Alex Caruso out. The preview highlights the Thunder’s advantage in rest and the narrative that a win could reaffirm their danger despite their injury list. The game streams on Space City Home Network and NBA TV.
Kyrie Irving sparks a comeback, dropping 35 points (16 in the fourth) and nine assists as the Mavericks beat the Rockets 116-111, though Dallas’ playmaking depth remains thin with Walter Clayton Jr.’s turnovers and Sergio De Larrea out. Meanwhile, Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa tallies 17 points and eight rebounds in a 95-79 win over Charlotte, energizing the offense despite his still‑developing three‑point shot. The Nets stay winless at 0-5, but Moe Wagner’s 16-point, eight‑rebound performance against Detroit gives coach Jordi Fernandez a potential new option at center, while Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. struggle to score efficiently. The roundup highlights key player impacts and lingering roster issues across three teams.
Kevin Durant candidly reflects on the Houston Rockets' first loss of the 2026-27 NBA regular season.
Kyrie Irving hails 19‑year‑old Cooper Flagg’s “very rare” competitive drive after the rookie’s 33‑point, 9‑rebound performance helped the Dallas Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets 116‑111 on Oct. 31, 2026. Irving, who scores 35, praised Flagg’s poise under pressure, noting his ability to make clutch plays despite only 75 NBA games. Flagg’s late three‑point play and turnaround jumper sealed the win, while Irving adds 26 second‑half points and nine assists.
Kyrie Irving sparks the Dallas Mavericks to a 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets on Oct. 31, 2026, handing Houston its first loss of the season. Irving drops 35 points—26 after halftime—while Cooper Flagg adds 33, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Dallas erupts for 40 of its 116 points in the fourth quarter, improving to 4-2 and staying above .500 for the first time since March 2025. Kevin Durant leads the Rockets with 28 points, but Houston misses Alperen Şengün and Reed Sheppard with back soreness and Steven Adams with a soleus strain. The game, part of the Emirates NBA Cup, featured a fast‑break edge (28-10) for the Mavericks and a 20‑6 second‑chance advantage for the Rockets.
The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) edge the Houston Rockets (5-1) 116-111 in the NBA Cup Group Play opener, snapping Houston’s five‑game winning streak. Kyrie Irving drops a game‑high 35 points with nine assists, while sophomore forward Cooper Flazz erupts for 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter. Rookie Zaccharie Risacher adds 12 points, three steals and a blocked shot while hitting 3‑of‑6 from beyond the arc. The duo’s 68 combined points and 25‑of‑38 shooting overturns the previous Durant‑Jabari Smith Jr. dominance, and the Mavs now host the Sacramento Kings on Monday.
Kyrie Irving leads the Dallas Mavericks to a 116-111 victory over the Houston Rockets in the NBA Cup, dropping a season‑high 35 points along with four rebounds and nine assists. The crowd erupts in MVP chants as Irving nails crucial free throws in the final seconds. Rookie Cooper Flagg adds 33 points, nine boards and six assists, extending his scoring streak despite a recent shoulder injury. The win marks the Mavericks’ third straight triumph and fuels talk of Irving’s lingering MVP potential as he manages his comeback from a knee injury.
Four key takeaways from the Rockets' loss to the Mavericks in the first fixture of the 2026-27 NBA Cup.
Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving turn the tables on the Houston Rockets, each pouring in 33 and 35 points as the Dallas Mavericks snap a 4‑2 start with a 116‑111 victory in the NBA Cup Group A at American Airlines Center on Oct. 30. After a 5‑1 Rockets run and a 128‑110 loss a week earlier, Dallas claws back, shooting 61.9% in the first quarter and forcing 11 turnovers in the half. Despite a disastrous 31‑17 second‑quarter run by Houston, the Mavs rally in the second half, securing their first win of the season.
The Dallas Mavericks snap the Houston Rockets’ unbeaten start with a 116-111 win on Oct. 21, 2026. Kyrie Irving leads Dallas with 33 points on 12‑of‑19 shooting, while rookie Cooper Flagg adds 32 points, going 13‑of‑19. Kevin Durant tops the Rockets with 26 points but misses four free throws, and Clint Capela commits two goaltending violations that prove costly. Jabari Smith Jr. contributes 22 points, yet the Rockets struggle without Alper Şengün, whose status remains uncertain. Despite 20 offensive rebounds, Houston falls short as the Mavericks’ dynamic duo secures the victory, setting up a tough showdown with the Thunder next night.
Kevin Durant electrified the Rockets' NBA Cup showdown with the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 31, 2026, delivering a dunk that resembled a contest entry as he drove past PJ Washington and slammed over Mavs center Daniel Gafford. Durant finished with 28 points, five rebounds and one assist, but Houston fell 116‑111, marking their first loss (5‑1) and handing the unbeaten Memphis Grizzlies the sole perfect record. Dallas leaned on Kyrie Irving and rookie Cooper Flagg, who combined for 68 points, while Gafford added 18. The Rockets now turn to a back‑to‑back matchup against a shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kyrie Irving and rookie Cooper Flagg electrify the Dallas Mavericks with a thunderous transition dunk in their NBA Cup debut against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 31, 2026. The duo combines for 68 points, lifting Dallas to a 4-2 season start and snapping Houston’s 5‑1 run. Irving scores 35 (12‑of‑19 FG, 5‑of‑8 3‑pts, 6‑of‑6 FT) with nine assists, while Flagg adds 33 and nine rebounds. Dallas rallies from an 84‑76 deficit, dropping 40 fourth‑quarter points to secure the win and move into sixth place in the West. The Mavericks now host the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 2.
Mavericks coach Dusty May says the team’s biggest defensive upgrade since their 128‑point loss to the Rockets on Oct. 21 is communication. He praised players for spotting the lack of chatter during transition, a flaw that left them outnumbered on eight to ten key possessions. Since then Dallas has held opponents to 105–122 points and gone 3‑1, highlighted by a 96‑point game vs OKC and a 113‑109 win over Miami where they logged ten blocks. The Rockets, fresh off a 132‑100 win over Milwaukee, return for a rematch at 7 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center, promising a tougher test in transition.
Mavericks coach Dusty May remains hopeful as Dallas prepares for its NBA Cup group‑play debut against the unbeaten Houston Rockets (5‑0) on Oct. 30, 7 p.m. CT. May praised Houston’s “off‑the‑charts” toughness, citing the length of Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant, plus the playmaking of Fred VanVleet and defensive grit of Marcus Smart. In the season‑opening 128‑110 loss, Durant and Smith each dropped 30 points while Houston’s relentless switching defense forced Dallas into a 4‑of‑19 shooting slump. Dallas, now 3‑2, answered with a 120‑96 win over OKC and will look to erase the opening‑night sting in the rematch.
Mavericks coach Dusty May says rookie forward Morel "Rez" Johnson Jr. is progressing well despite a minutes restriction imposed after shin‑splint concerns. Drafted ninth overall from Michigan, Johnson has logged limited practice time but contributed solidly in early games: 6 points in 13:50 against Houston, 8 points with 6 rebounds in a 121‑105 win at Indiana, 6 points in a 113‑109 victory over Miami, and 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists in a 120‑96 win versus Oklahoma City. Teammate P.J. Washington praises his defensive versatility and work ethic, noting an inevitable up‑and‑down rookie season. Dallas remains shorthanded with Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama sidelined as they prepare for a matchup against the Kings.
The Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 30, 2026, at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets, featuring Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant and Tari Eason, aim to maintain an unbeaten streak, while the Mavericks counter with Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford. A notable moment from the Oct. 21 matchup shows Mavericks forward Sergio de Larrea debuting his jersey patch against Durant. The game tips off at 7 PM CST, broadcast on Space City Home Network and simulcast on KBME Sports Talk 790/KLTN 102.9, with live chat on the SB Nation app.
Mavericks coach Dusty May says forward Tarik Biberović is "very close" to returning from right heel bursitis, though not as near as fellow prospect Santi Aldama. Biberović, listed as doubtful for the 7 p.m. tip‑off against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 30, last appeared on Oct. 11 in a preseason win over Houston in Macao. Acquired in a July 8, six‑team trade and signed to a two‑year, $6 million deal, the 25‑year‑old logged 11.3 points and 41.9% 3‑point shooting in the EuroLeague last season. Meanwhile, Caleb Martin back from a thumb sprain contributed 10 points in a 120‑96 win over OKC, and Dallas faces a 5‑0 Rockets squad missing Alperen Şengün and Marcus Smart.
The Houston Rockets announce Alperen Şengün will sit out Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks due to low‑back soreness, marking his second consecutive missed start after a minor strain kept him out against Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Marcus Smart clears a left forearm strain and is listed as available after missing three games since Oct. 24. The Rockets, now 5‑0, rely on players like Fred VanVleet (24 points) and Amen Thompson (23) as they host the Mavericks at 7 p.m. CT, while Dallas deals with injuries to Naji Marshall’s return and several others.
Dallas Mavericks rookie guard Sergio De Larrea (nicknamed “Larry”) will be reevaluated next week after spraining his right knee on Oct. 26 during a 113‑109 win at Miami. The injury kept him out of the 120‑96 victory over Oklahoma City and the upcoming Oct. 30 game against Houston. Coach Dusty May said De Larrea will undergo imaging and expects a clearer picture soon, while also noting Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberović are close to returning. The 20‑year‑old, the 25th overall pick in the 2026 draft, scored 21 points in his Oct. 24 debut against the Spurs. Houston also loses Alperen Şengün to low‑back soreness.