Dallas Rallies Behind Irving and Flagg to End Houston’s Unbeaten Run
Irving poured in 35 points, including 26 after halftime, while Flagg contributed 33 points on 13-of-19 shooting. Irving hit a jump shot that gave Dallas a 102-100 lead for good, setting up a frantic finish. The defeat leaves Memphis as the sole remaining undefeated team in the NBA at 5-0.
Jabari Smith Jr. added 22 points for the Rockets, scoring 10 of them during a 31-17 second-quarter surge that erased an early seven-point deficit and put Houston ahead by seven at the half.
Clutch Free-Throw Misses Shift Momentum in Final Minutes
The game turned in the closing two minutes when both teams struggled from the charity stripe. Durant, an 88% career free-throw shooter, missed a pair of foul shots with 1:53 remaining and the Rockets trailing by two points. Moments later, Amen Thompson missed two free throws with 42 seconds left after P.J. Washington threw an errant pass directly to him.
Mavericks vs. Rockets Recap: Irving and Flagg huge in Dallas’ 116-111 NBA Cup win over Houston https://t.co/EQgQbbBEX4
Flagg answered both missed opportunities on the offensive end, converting key baskets including a three-point play. Dallas sealed the win by intentionally fouling twice in the final 10 seconds while holding a three-point lead, allowing Irving to convert from the line.
Free-Throw Streaks and Roster Statistics
Irving finished a perfect 6 of 6 on free throws, extending the NBA’s longest active streak of made free throws to 54. That streak dates back to before a 19-month absence caused by a torn ACL in his left knee. For the game, Irving shot 12 of 19 from the field, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.
Daniel Gafford chipped in 18 points for Dallas, sinking two crucial free throws with 11 seconds left and the Mavericks ahead by just one point. Houston struggled overall from the foul line, converting only 24 of 33 attempts. Fred VanVleet added 16 points and Thompson finished with 15 for the Rockets.
Upcoming Schedule for Both Franchises
The Rockets look to rebound quickly when they host the Thunder on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Mavericks return to action on Monday night to host the Kings.
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