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)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Coming off a 6-11 season, the Cincinnati Bengals targeted two proven winners in free agency and rewarded another who was already in the building.

The Bengals announced Thursday that left offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. had agreed to a two-year extension through the 2028 season. The 29-year-old Brown, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 before joining the Bengals in free agency leading into the 2023 season.

With two more Super Bowl champs in safety Bryan Cook and defensive end Boye Mafe also signing this week, Brown said he remains excited about the direction the Bengals are heading.

“We’ve got a lot of special players and a lot of special men in that locker room,” Brown said. “We’ve got one of the hardest pieces of the puzzle in Joe Burrow, so I think it’s important for everyone else around him, including myself, to step up to the plate.”

Cook, who won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs in his first four years in the league, had the best season of his career in 2025 and now joins the Bengals on a three-year contract.

Cook returns to his hometown of Cincinnati, where he also played college football at the University of Cincinnati.

“My family, we’ve been talking about this for a long time, being able to come back home,” Cook said. “I’m excited for the opportunity and the new chapter in my life.”

During Cook's rookie NFL season in 2022, he created an interception by tipping a pass on one of the most important plays of the Chiefs’ AFC championship game win over the Bengals. The Bengals are looking for Cook to make these types of clutch plays in big games over the next few years, and Cook has high hopes for Cincinnati.

“We’ve done it (before),” Cook said. “We can get it done again. That’s always the goal. That’s what we do it for.”

Cook fills a need at free safety that the Bengals hadn’t been able to effectively address since safety Jessie Bates III signed with the Atlanta Falcons before the 2023 season.

Cook’s aggressive style, consistent tackling and playmaking ability are an upside for the Bengals defense.

“He’s going to bring a ton of great energy,” said Brown, who played with Cook in Kansas City in 2022. “He’s a fierce competitor. He loves the game. He has got a lot of personality, you’ve just got to get it out of him a bit. When he first got to Kansas City, he was immediately in the mix in terms of being a guy in the locker room that vets respected.”

The Bengals replaced Trey Hendrickson, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens, by signing defensive end Boye Mafe to a three-year deal. Mafe won a Super Bowl title with the Seattle Seahawks last month, and he’s one of the most athletic young defensive ends in the NFL.

Mafe led the Seahawks in sacks in 2023. A scheme change and further additions to Seattle’s roster led to a reduced role for him. With the Bengals, the 27-year-old Mafe will get the opportunity to be a No. 1 pass rusher again.

“Coming here, talking to the coaches and talking about their plans for the future and what they want to do and build here, that’s what excites me,” Mafe said. “Being a part of the building and seeing it grow, that’s what excites me. Cincinnati has what they need. It’s one of those teams people are going to know about soon.”

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

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) reacts before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger,File)

FILE - Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) slides to the ground with Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) leaping behind in the NFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer,File)

FILE - Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (75) walks off the field during halftime in an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)