Flagg Leads Mavericks to Tight NBA Cup Win Over Pelicans

Rookie Cooper Flagg delivered his best performance of the season and helped the Dallas Mavericks secure a hard-fought 118-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in an exciting NBA Cup game on Friday night. Flagg, who continues to grow in confidence, scored a season-high 29 points, with 12 of them coming in the final quarter when the pressure was highest. He also added seven rebounds and five assists, showing that he is becoming an all-round impact player for Dallas.

Dallas needed this victory badly, as the team had won only two of its previous 12 games. Alongside Flagg, PJ Washington played a big role by scoring 24 points. Max Christie also had a strong night with a season-best 23 points. Jaden Hardy added 11 points, while Brandon Williams controlled the offense well with 12 assists. Their combined effort helped the Mavericks stay competitive even when New Orleans took control in the early stages.

For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III led the scoring with 25 points. Zion Williamson also played powerfully inside the paint and finished with 22 points. Jeremiah Fears produced a solid performance with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Derik Queen contributed 20 points and 11 assists. However, despite strong individual numbers, New Orleans could not end their losing streak and have now dropped eight straight games. The Pelicans also fell to 0-3 in West Group B of the NBA Cup, while the Mavericks improved to 1-2.

The final minutes of the match were filled with tension. With just under two minutes left, Williamson scored a three-point play and then hit two more free throws, giving the Pelicans a 115-111 lead. But Dallas refused to give up. Flagg hit a lucky bounce shot with 1:19 remaining to reduce the gap. Moments later, Naji Marshall drilled a key three-pointer that put the Mavericks ahead 116-115 with 31.7 seconds left.

When the Pelicans tried to respond, PJ Washington made a crucial defensive play by getting a hand on Fears’ long-range attempt. Christie was then fouled and calmly made both free throws, giving Dallas a 118-115 lead with only 10.9 seconds left on the clock.

The Pelicans still had a chance to tie the game, but Murphy and Queen both missed three-point attempts in the final seconds. Washington secured the last rebound, and time expired as the Mavericks celebrated a much-needed win.

Dallas performed well from behind the arc, sinking 16 of 43 three-point attempts. Washington and Christie each made five three-pointers, helping the team stay in the game when the offense struggled early. Overall, Dallas shot 47.6% from the field. New Orleans shot slightly lower at 46.2% and struggled badly from the three-point line, making only seven of their 27 attempts.

The game had several momentum swings. The Pelicans were strong in the first half and led 63-49 at halftime, thanks to Murphy’s 15 points. But the Mavericks bounced back in the third quarter, outscoring New Orleans 36-22. Dallas made five three-pointers in the quarter, while New Orleans missed all four of their attempts. That helped Dallas take a brief 78-74 lead after a 3-pointer from Williams. Fears then made a free throw to tie the game at 85 going into the final quarter.

Dallas played without D’Angelo Russell, who was out due to illness. For New Orleans, several players also struggled with minor injuries, adding to the team's challenges.

This win gives Dallas momentum as they continue their NBA Cup journey, and it once again highlighted the growing potential of their promising rookie, Cooper Flagg, whose standout performance made the difference when it mattered most.