Flagg and Irving Rescue Mavs from Deadlock to Defeat Jazz 112-100
The Mavericks overcame a 57-all halftime score to secure a win in an NBA Cup game, with P.J. Washington leading the early scoring before the stars took over in the second half.
By Jasmine Carter ·
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz 112-100 on Friday night in an NBA Cup game, recovering from a first half in which their two leading scorers struggled to find rhythm.
The teams finished the first half tied at 57. P.J. Washington carried the offensive load for Dallas during that period, scoring 22 of his season-high 26 points. He shot five for six from beyond the arc and made all five of his free throws in the first half.
Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, however, found their footing after the break. Flagg scored 17 points in the second half, while Irving, who started 1 of 11 from the field, scored all but two of his 14 points after halftime. Together, they scored 21 points during a 22-10 run that shifted the game's momentum.
That run turned a one-point deficit for Dallas into an 81-70 lead late in the third quarter. Flagg contributed 13 points to that stretch, and Irving added eight. The Mavericks maintained the advantage even after Irving left the floor, extending the lead to 16 points.
Morez Johnson Jr. secured his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 17 rebounds. He finished the game with a one-handed alley-oop dunk. On the other end, Josh Okogie hit a three-pointer as the third-quarter buzzer sounded, but it was not enough to close the gap.
For Utah, Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points, and rookie Darryn Peterson added 21. The Jazz dropped to a 1-8 record after losing their seventh consecutive game. Santi Aldama, a 7-footer acquired in a six-team trade over the summer, played his first game since February 4 of last season. He finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
The Mavericks will host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, while the Jazz travel to Minnesota for their next matchup.
