Washington and Flagg power Mavericks to a 138-133 OT win over the Trail Blazers

DALLAS (AP) — P.J. Washington Jr. and Cooper Flagg scored 21 points apiece and teamed up on a crucial basket late in overtime to help the Dallas Mavericks to a 138-133 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.

Dallas led 130-129 with 1:39 remaining when Flagg grabbed the rebound of a missed 3-pointer by Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe and delivered an outlet pass to Washington for a jam during a 6-0 Dallas run.

Daniel Gafford added 20 points, including seven in overtime, and was one of seven Mavericks who scored in double figures. Dallas (4-10) snapped a three-game skid with the win.

Sharpe scored a season-high 36 points for the Trail Blazers (6-7), who have lost four of their last five games. Deni Avdija scored 29 before fouling out with 1:39 left on the play that resulted in Gafford hitting two free throws and putting Dallas ahead for good at 130-129.

Portland’s Jerami Grant scored 26 points in his first start this season in place of Jrue Holiday, who sat out with right calf soreness.

Dallas hit all seven of its field-goal attempts in overtime, all 2-pointers.

The Trail Blazers matched a season high by grabbing 22 offensive rebounds, seven by Donovan Clingan (11 total rebounds), resulting in a 32-10 advantage in second-chance points.

The Mavericks’ Anthony Davis missed his ninth consecutive game with a left calf strain. The team announced before the game that the 32-year-old, 10-time All-Star will be out at least another seven to 10 days. Davis has been sidelined by multiple injuries following the controversial Feb. 2 trade in which Dallas sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers and has missed 31 of a possible 47 games with the Mavs.

Davis’ bench attire was the jersey of Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who beat the Dallas Cowboys 48-32 in the 2023-24 NFL wild-card playoffs.

Mavericks: Complete a back-to-back at Minnesota on Monday.

Trail Blazers: Host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

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

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis wears a NFL quarterback Jordan Love, of the Green Bay Packers, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg reacts after a play against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, left, drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg dribbles the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Texans never made their trip to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night into anything more than their next game.

Didn't matter that the Kansas City Chiefs had been the AFC's bully for the better part of a decade. Or the Chiefs had knocked Houston out of the playoffs last year. Or that the Texans needed to win to keep pace with Jacksonville in the AFC South.

“It was our next game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We needed to come out and execute. Play good football. And we did.”

Did enough, anyway.

C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on the NFL's top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Houston walked out with a 20-10 victory that gave a big boost to their postseason hopes.

Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter, as the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a game back of the Jaguars in a tight division race.

“We did what we came to do,” Ryans said. “It was just about accomplishing your mission. It wasn't anything extra on top for winning this game. We just knew we had to get the win no matter what it took.”

Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was 14 of 33 for 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The last of the picks came late in the fourth quarter, when Kansas City was trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.

“I thought our defense did a great job sticking in coverage, and relentlessly rushing," Stroud said. "An amazing job.”

While the win gave a big boost to Houston's playoff chances, whether it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.

“You're getting late in the season. You're not going to get these opportunities back,” Mahomes said. “That's a good football team, but we had chances and we didn't execute at the right time to win it.”

The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including that divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely when they returned for the rematch Sunday night.

The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston's 2018 version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming performances and too many mistakes across the board.

The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.

Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain that set up Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal and a 53-yard catch that led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained two more significant injuries, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three backups.

“Listen, they battled,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said afterward. “Some of the guys in there hadn't practiced much.”

Still, the Chiefs wound up with just 98 first-half yards, and they trailed 10-0 at the break. It was only the fourth time with Mahomes at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.

The Chiefs' defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight consecutive incompletions to start the second half. It allowed Mahomes and the offense to pick away at their deficit, first on Kareem Hunt's TD run and then on Harrison Butker's tying field goal.

Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the fourth quarter.

With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own 35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out to give Houston the lead again.

The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down. And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was picked off to end any hope of a comeback.

“We've still got an opportunity. Even though it's a slim opportunity, we have an opportunity,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “For us, the door is still open. It might be a 10 percent chance. It might be a 5 percent chance. But as long as we have an opportunity and a chance, we can control that, and let the cards fall where they fall.”

Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half and did not return.

Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and without its best defensive back.

Houston plays the Cardinals next Sunday.

Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles as Houston Texans defensive end Denico Autry, left, defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston Texans cornerback Ameer Speed (37) reacts to Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) missing a field goal attempt during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) is congratulated by teammate Jalen Pitre, left, after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale, right, scores past Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner during the second half of an NFL football game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)