Flagg and Irving Combine for 68 as Mavericks Down Rockets 116-111

Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving shared 68 points as the Dallas Mavericks handed the Houston Rockets their first defeat of the season, winning 116-111 in NBA Cup action on Friday night. The star duo carried Dallas through the key stretches, combining scoring punch with composure whenever Houston threatened to take control of the game. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 28 points, but Houston could not match Dallas down the stretch as the Mavericks closed out a tight contest. The win continued an encouraging early-season run for Dallas, whose young-and-veteran pairing is quickly becoming one of the league's most watchable combinations. Friday's game was part of the opening night of NBA Cup group play. For Dallas, though, the headline was the balance of its attack: Flagg's all-around impact alongside Irving's shot-making gave the Mavericks two closers, and against an unbeaten Houston side, that proved to be the difference in a five-point win.