Cooper Flagg and the Mavs extend their 1st winning streak to 3 with win over Heat

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 22 points, Anthony Davis had 17 points and 17 rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks extended their first winning streak of the season to three games with a 118-108 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.

Undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard had 15 points and a season-high 13 assists after scoring a career-high 28 points in the previous game, a 131-121 victory over Denver. Klay Thompson scored 17 points in his relatively new role off the bench.

Kel’el Ware had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, while Tyler Herro scored 20 points but was shut out after halftime in his fifth game of the season coming off surgery to repair an issue affecting his left ankle and foot.

The Heat played without leading scorer Norman Powell, who has a sprained left ankle. Dallas center Daniel Gafford exited in the second half with a left ankle injury and didn't return.

Flagg, the rookie No. 1 overall pick, and Davis combined to score the last eight Dallas points after the Heat had cut a 17-point second-half deficit to four with three minutes remaining on a bucket by Bam Adebayo, who scored 21 points.

Davis was playing consecutive games for the first time since missing a month with a left calf strain.

Nembhard, who has made four consecutive starts that are the first of his career, made all three of his 3-point attempts during a three-minute stretch in the second quarter when Dallas took the lead for good. The Mavericks were 16 of 32 from long range.

Herro was 8 of 12 from the field in the first half but missed the only five shots he got after the break, four from beyond the arc.

Heat: At Orlando on Friday night.

Mavericks: At Oklahoma City on Friday night.

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

Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) goes up for a basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell (5) and Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. chase after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Mavericks guard Ryan Nembhard prepares to shoot against the Miami Heat during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. tries to keep the ball in bounds against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg dribbles the ball up court against the Miami Heat during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Puma has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby, so the 152nd edition of the race will be run Saturday with 19 horses instead of the maximum 20.

Churchill Downs officials announced The Puma was out because of a swollen leg from a skin infection. He was ruled out less than 12 hours before the 6:57 p.m. EDT post time, past the deadline for Corona de Oro to draw into the field off the also-eligible list.

The horse trained by Gustavo Delgado Sr. and son Gustavo Delgado Jr. opened at odds of 10-1 and was bet down to 8-1 by Friday.

“It’s incredibly disappointing, but the swelling should go down within a day or two," Delgado Jr. said. "It’s just really bad timing.”

The father-son training duo was looking to win its second Derby after doing so with Mage in 2023. Another father-son duo, Bill and Riley Mott, is the first to each have a horse in the race since 1964.

The Puma is the fourth scratch from the field this week, with one coming each of the past four days. Silent Tactic was ruled out Wednesday, Fulleffort on Thursday and Right to Party on Friday, with Great White, Ocelli and Robusta getting in.

Renegade remains the favorite after opening as such on the morning line a week ago. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt would be the first to win the Derby out of the inside No. 1 post position in four decades.

AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

A horse heads to the track for a workout at Churchill Downs Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Graphic shows the field for the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby entrant The Puma works out at Churchill Downs Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)