Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis lead Mavericks past Pistons, 116-114 in overtime

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Anthony Davis added 15 points and the Dallas Mavericks recovered to beat the Detroit Pistons 116-114 in overtime Thursday night after blowing an 18-point third-quarter lead.

Flagg, who will turn 19 on Sunday, is averaging 25.4 points over his last eight games. The Mavericks (11-18) have won six of their last eight.

Cade Cunningham had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double this season for the East-leading Pistons (21-6), who have gone 6-4 following a 15-2 start. Jalen Duren had 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Davis’ alley-oop from Flagg put Dallas ahead 114-112 with 3:10 left in overtime. After Cunningham’s bank shot tied it with 1:49 remaining, Davis’ dunk with 1:32 accounted for the final points.

Cunningham’s floater with seven seconds left missed, leaving him 2 for 7 in overtime. Duren grabbed the rebound, missed a shot beneath the basket, and Davis grabbed the rebound with 0.9 seconds left.

The Pistons played without two starters much of the night. Ausar Thompson was ejected late in the first half after disputing a foul and making contact with official John Goble, and Duncan Robinson left after injuring a knee early in the third period.

Cunningham received a technical foul in the final minute of the first half, and Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff got one as thee were leaving the court at halftime.

Davis, who missed Dallas' previous game with a left calf contusion, shot 7 for 18 from the floor after missing his first eight shots.

Detroit outscored Dallas 30-15 on second-chance points with 25 offensive rebounds. But the Pistons shot a season-worst 18.2% on 3-pointers (6 for 33).

Before the game, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said there’s still no schedule for the return of nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving following ACL surgery last March. “In another month, we’ll give you an update,” Kidd said.

Pistons: Host Charlotte on Saturday.

Mavericks: Visit Philadelphia on Saturday.

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

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) dunks as Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg (32) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham discusses a call with referee John Goble (10) in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) works for a shot attempt against Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Referee John Goble (10) issues a technical foul to Detroit Pistons' Ausar Thompson, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dunks in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to become the career assists leader among centers, and the streaking Denver Nuggets beat the Orlando Magic 126-115 on Thursday night.

Jokic, who has 13 triple-doubles this season, entered Thursday six assists behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had 5,660. Jokic passed him with 6:26 left in the first half when he fed Jalen Pickett for a 3-pointer.

Jamal Murray scored 20 of his 32 points in a game-turning second quarter for Denver, which won its sixth straight.

Paolo Banchero had 26 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his third career triple-double and first since March 20, 2024.

The Magic, already missing leading scorer Franz Wagner due to a sprained left ankle, played without Jalen Suggs, who sustained a left hip contusion in the NBA Cup semifinal loss to New York on Saturday night.

Wendell Carter Jr. also scored 26 points for Orlando.

Murray, who has never been named to an All-Star team in his eight seasons, is averaging a career-best 25.2 points this season and 28.1 in December, which includes a 52-point game at Indiana two weeks ago.

He made 5 of 6 3-point attempts in the second quarter after the Nuggets fell behind by 14.

Denver had 33 total points midway through the period and went on a 35-7 run in the final 6:26 of the half to turn a 47-33 deficit into a 68-54 halftime lead.

It was 81-60 a few minutes into the third quarter before Orlando rallied to cut it to 92-83. Cam Johnson, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, hit a 3-pointer out of a timeout that spurred another Nuggets surge.

The Magic got within 121-115 with 1:32 remaining but Johnson hit a corner 3-pointer to seal it.

Mavericks: At Utah on Saturday night.

Nuggets: Host the Houston Rockets for the second time in six days on Saturday afternoon.

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

Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas, left, looks to pass the ball as Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, looks to pass the ball as Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze, front right, and guard Noah Penda defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, drives past Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front, drives to the basket as Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, right, looks to pass the ball under pressure from Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)