Jaden McDaniels goes for career-high 27 points as Wolves outlast Mavs 115-114

DALLAS (AP) — Jaden McDaniels scored a career-high 27 points, including the clinching free throw with 3 seconds to play, and Anthony Edwards added 21 as the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 115-114 on Wednesday night.

Two free throws by Mike Conley gave Minnesota a 114-111 lead with 11.8 seconds left. After Kyrie Irving missed a 3-pointer, McDaniels grabbed the rebound and made one of two free throws for a four-point lead. Irving hit a running 3 at the buzzer.

Irving scored 36 points and P.J. Washington Jr. added a season-high 30 points for the Mavericks, who are 4-11 since superstar Luka Doncic was sidelined with a calf strain early in their Christmas Day loss to the Wolves.

The Mavericks announced before the game that center Dereck Lively II has a stress fracture in his right ankle and will be re-evaluated in a month. Guard Klay Thompson (left ankle sprain) was one of four other Dallas regulars out because of injury or illness.

The teams are tied for seventh place in the Western Conference at 23-21.

Six Timberwolves scored in double figures. Conley’s 18 points were a season best.

Timberwolves: While Dallas had the crowded inactive list, Minnesota used fewer players — eight to the Mavericks’ nine — with seven playing more than 26 minutes each.

Mavericks: Irving surpassed 18,000 career points, the 81st NBA player to do so.

After Irving’s 3-pointer pulled the Mavericks within 101-100 with 5:45 to play and brought the crowd to its feet, McDaniels hit a right-corner 3, rebounded a miss by Spencer Dinwiddie and fed Edwards for a driving basket and a 106-100 lead.

Dallas outscored Minnesota 66-48 in the paint without its starting center.

The Mavericks play at Oklahoma City on Thursday. The Timberwolves host Denver on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) passes against Dallas Mavericks defenders Quentin Grimes (5) and Spencer Dinwiddie (26) as Daniel Gafford (21) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots again Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) and forward Julius Randle (30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) dips his head in front of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) shoots as teammate center Naz Reid (11) looks on against Dallas Mavericks defenders Kessler Edwards (20), Quentin Grimes (5) and Maxi Kleber (42) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) slam dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) drives past Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Managerless Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday.

At the end of a week that saw the storied Premier League team fire head coach Ruben Amorim, the loss at Old Trafford has likely consigned United to another trophyless season and was greeted with loud jeers from the home crowd.

Former United striker Danny Welbeck scored what proved the decisive goal in the 64th minute, and Benjamin Sesko's late header was only a consolation for the hosts in the third-round match.

United has exited both domestic knockout competitions at the earliest possible stage this season, following the humbling loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in the English League Cup. The latest defeat means United will play the bare minimum of 40 competitive games for a top division team this season.

Its only chance of silverware this term is the Premier League, which would require a remarkable turnaround with the 20-time champion currently seventh in the standings and 17 points behind leader Arsenal with 17 games left.

United hopes an interim coach will be able to secure Champions League qualification, with the club having spoken to former players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick about taking on the role until the end of the season. Youth coach Darren Fletcher, who has taken charge of the two games since Amorim's departure, is also a contender, as well as former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The loss to Brighton underlined the job facing the interim coach.

Brajan Gruda fired the visitors ahead in the 12th, with Welbeck doubling the advantage after the break. Sesko scored his third goal in two games in the 85th, but substitute Shea Lacey was sent off four minutes later and United could not force an equalizer to take the game to extra time.

Arsenal advanced earlier Sunday with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a hat trick in a 4-1 win at Portsmouth.

Martinelli's treble helped the Premier League leader come back from going a goal down to the second-tier Championship team inside three minutes.

Colby Bishop stunned Arsenal with the opening goal at Fratton Park, but the lead only lasted five minutes after Andre Dozzell scored an own-goal.

Martinelli put the visitors ahead with a flicked header in the 25th. He slid in for his second six minutes after the break and headed in his hat-trick goal in the 72nd. It was the first time the Brazilian had scored a hat trick for Arsenal.

Victory could have been even more emphatic if Noni Madueke had converted from the penalty spot in the first half.

“It’s always tough to go into these places, especially in the manner that we started the game, conceding the early goal, but we managed to turn things around so I’m very happy,” said manager Mikel Arteta.

Record 14-time FA Cup winner Arsenal last lifted the trophy in Arteta’s first season in charge in 2020. It was the last major honor the London club won, but victory against Portsmouth maintains its four-pronged trophy pursuit along with the Premier League title, the Champions League and the English League Cup.

“I think we are very privileged to be where we are, and the games that we have to play, which means that we are in every competition,” Arteta said.

Top-flight Leeds was also behind to Championship opposition, but recovered from 1-0 down to beat Derby 3-1 at Pride Park.

Third-tier Mansfield pulled off an upset to beat Championship side Sheffield United 4-3 and Norwich routed Walsall 5-1, with Jovon Makama scoring a hat trick. Norwich head coach Philippe Clement later said that U.S. international Josh Sargent refused to play in the game.

Relegation-fighting West Ham needed extra time to beat QPR 2-1. Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos’ goal saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s team end a 10-match winless run.

West Bromwich Albion beat Swansea 6-5 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time. Hull won 4-3 against Blackburn on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Brighton's Danny Welbeck celebrates after scoring during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton in Manchester, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha reacts during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton in Manchester, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli scores during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke celebrate after a goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Leeds United's James Justin scores their side's third goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United, in Derby, England, Sunday Jan. 11, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Leeds United's Ao Tanaka, right, celebrates with Wilfried Gnonto after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United, in Derby, England, Sunday Jan. 11, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Arsenal players celebrate after a goal during the FA Cup third round soccer match between Portsmouth and Arsenal in Portsmouth, England, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)