Cooper Flagg's Stellar Performance Falls Short as Mavericks Suffer Loss to Rockets
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets secured a 111-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, thanks to Amen Thompson's impressive performance. Thompson contributed 21 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, including a thrilling alley-oop dunk that put the Rockets up by four with under two minutes left in the game.
The Mavericks, however, mounted a comeback, with rookie Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall scoring the next four points to tie the game. Alperen Sengun's layup put the Rockets back in the lead with 28.6 seconds remaining, but Flagg missed a crucial shot in the lane on the other end. The Rockets' Tari Eason then sealed the deal with a dunk, making it 111-107 with 14.4 seconds left.
Despite Flagg's outstanding performance, scoring 34 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, the 19-year-old's record-breaking 49 points in a loss to Charlotte on Thursday night couldn't prevent the Mavericks' defeat. This was the fifth game this season where Flagg has scored at least 30 points, solidifying his status as a rising star in the NBA.
Jabari Smith Jr. and Sengun also contributed significantly for the Rockets, with 19 and 14 points, respectively, and 14 rebounds for Sengun. The Rockets' early lead of 11 points was extended to 13 after a 3-pointer by Josh Okogie, but the Mavericks responded with a 13-5 run, cutting the lead to 87-82 at the end of the third quarter.
The Mavericks' comeback continued, with Flagg leading a 6-2 run to get within 103-97 with 3.5 minutes remaining. Kevin Durant's jump shot for the Rockets followed, but Dallas responded with six consecutive points, narrowing the lead to 105-103 with two minutes left. The Rockets' final lead of 13 was established after a 3-pointer by Okogie, but the Mavericks' resilience kept the game close.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks will host Boston on Tuesday night, while the Rockets travel to Indiana on Monday night.
