Flagg scores 29 points, Marshall hits late 3 to lead Mavericks past Pelicans, 118-115

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored a career-high 29 points, Naji Marshall hit the go-ahead 3-pointer against his former team with 30.7 seconds left and the Dallas Mavericks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 118-115 on Friday night in NBA Cup play.

The 3-pointer by Marshall, who played four seasons with New Orleans before signing with Dallas in July 2024, put the Mavericks ahead 116-115.

The Pelicans missed three 3-pointers in the closing seconds, the last attempt from rookie center Derik Queen with four seconds left after Dallas’ Max Christie made two free throws with 10.9 seconds to go. The Mavericks’ P.J. Washington Jr. grabbed the rebound amid a crowd on the baseline, and the teams scuffled after the final buzzer.

Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick last summer, was 12 of 19 from the field and had seven rebounds and five assists after sitting out an NBA game for the first time Wednesday night.

Washington had 24 points, tying a season high with five 3-pointers, and Christie scored 23, tying a career best with five 3s. The Mavericks are 5-12 overall. They have won two of their last three home games after beginning the season 2-7 at American Airlines Center.

Dallas is 1-2 in NBA Cup play. New Orleans is 0-3.

Trey Murphy III scored 25 points to top the Pelicans, who have lost eight straight to drop to 2-14. They are 0-4 under interim coach James Borrego.

Zion Williamson scored 22 points in his second game back after missing the previous eight with a strained left hamstring. Jeremiah Fears scored 21, and Queen had 20 points, seven rebounds and a career-high 11 assists.

The Mavericks’ Brandon Williams tied a career high with 12 assists.

Pelicans: Host Atlanta on Saturday night.

Mavericks: Host Memphis on Saturday night.

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

New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey (41) shoots against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) tries to score against Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford (21) as Pelicans center Yves Missi (21) looks on with Mavericks defenders P.J. Washington (25) and Jaden Hardy (1) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson dribbles the ball during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) comes in for slam dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

ATLANTA (AP) — As the World Cup nears, Christian Pulisic's scoreless streak for the United States stretched to a career-high eight games.

“Of course it's frustrating, but I’m just going to stay positive,” he said after Tuesday night's 2-0 loss to Portugal in a friendly. “A lot of big things ahead, and I know I’m going to get to the other side and things are going to click.”

Pulisic hasn't scored an international goal since a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Jamaica on Nov. 18, 2024, and he's scoreless in 12 games with AC Milan since Dec. 28.

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino moved the 27-year-old from a wing to striker for the first time since taking over in October 2024 in an effort to get him more chances closer to goal. Pulisic had 28 touches, up from 24 in the first half of Saturday’s 5-2 loss to Belgium.

Pulisic missed the ball on an open volley from a Tim Weah cross in the 22nd minute and was just wide from outside the penalty area in the 36th. Pulisic got a yellow card for dissent in first-half stoppage time for kicking Samú Costa after he was pushed off the ball.

“He was very active and I think he made a good job,” Pochettino said. “Unlucky or ashamed a little bit that he didn’t score with the opportunity that he (had). It’s normal."

With 32 goals in 84 international appearances over a decade, Pulisic is the top American player. He scored 10 goals in his first 15 appearances for AC Milan this season.

“Yes, he feels frustrated, but that is what we want, what we expect. He was fighting,” Pochettino said. “He’s going to score because he has the quality. I am sure that he’s going to come back to his club. ... He's going to start to score again.”

Preparing to co-host the World Cup in June, the U.S. has lost eight straight games to European opponents while getting outscored 22-6. It is winless against the continent in 10 matches since 2021.

“Both first halves, and we caused the teams a lot problems. We put a lot pressure on them. We did a lot great things," Pulisic said. “Just little moments or just being a little bit more clinical and it’s just the same story but I feel really close and I feel like we’re in a good place.”

Pochettino announces his World Cup roster on May 26, and the Americans play their last warmups against Senegal five days later and Germany on June 6. They open the World Cup on June 12 against Australia, face Paraguay a week later and close the first round against Turkey on June 25.

Pulisic thought back to the last two games before the 2022 World Cup, a 2-0 loss to Japan and a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia. At the tournament, the U.S. tied Wales and England, then beat Iran 1-0 on a goal from Pulisic to advance before a round of 16 loss to the Netherlands.

“I remember people were doubting us after that camp,” he said of the September 2022 friendlies. “Maybe we didn’t have a great camp, and at the end of the day, we go in, we have a great World Cup. It’s all behind us. So like I said, better now, and we’re going to figure it out. We’re going to figure it out when it really counts.”

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

Unites States' Christian Pulisic listens during a news conference before the men's national soccer team training, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Marietta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ronald Blum

USA's Christian Pulisic (10) and Portugal's Francisco Trincao work during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

USA's Christian Pulisic (10) moves against Portugal's Joao Cancelo during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)