Irving scores 35 and Flagg adds 33 as Mavericks hand Rockets 1st loss of season 116-111

DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, Cooper Flagg added 33 and the Dallas Mavericks rallied for a 116-111 victory over Houston, handing the Rockets their first loss of the season in an NBA Cup opener Friday night.

Irving scored 26 of his points in the second half, including a jumper that put Dallas ahead for good at 102-100 and set up a tense final two minutes. Houston's loss left idle Memphis (5-0) as the only remaining unbeaten team in the league.

Kevin Durant scored 28 points, but the career 88% free throw shooter missed a pair with the Rockets trailing by two with 1:53 remaining. Amen Thompson did the same thing with 42 seconds to go after Dallas' P.J. Washington threw the ball directly to him for a turnover.

After each pair of misses, Flagg converted a clutch bucket on the other end, including a three-point play. Irving was 12 of 19 from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, and Flagg was 13 of 19.

Daniel Gafford scored 18 points, including two clutch free throws with Dallas leading by one with 11 seconds remaining.

The Mavericks held on down the stretch by fouling on purpose twice with a three-point lead in the final 10 seconds, and Irving hitting the free throws each time on the next possession.

Irving finished 6 of 6 from the line, extending the NBA's longest active streak of made free throws to 54 going back to before he was sidelined for 19 months by a torn ACL in his left knee.

Jabari Smith Jr. scored 10 points of his 22 points in the second quarter, when Houston outscored Dallas 31-17 to turn a seven-point deficit into a seven-point lead.

Fred VanVleet scored 16 points, and Thompson had 15 for Houston, which was just 24 of 33 on free throws.

Rockets: Host Thunder on Saturday night.

Mavericks: Host Kings on Monday night.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, bottom, and Houston Rockets' Amen Thompson, top, compete for the ball during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Houston Rockets' Kevin Durant jogs up court after taking a shot during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) knocks the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Dallas, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) prepares to shoot during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Dallas, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving leaps to the basket to take a shot during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Dallas, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — LaMelo Ball had a season-high 24 points and Jaden McDaniels scored 23 as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 127-101 on Friday night in NBA Cup group play for their first win without star Anthony Edwards.

Bones Hyland added 19 points and eight assists off the bench for the Timberwolves (4-2), who offered a glimpse of how they can still thrive while Edwards recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery.

After a 127-125 overtime loss at Cleveland on Monday, a fresh exam for Edwards indicated the need for the procedure after the wear-and-tear injury limited him to a career-low 61 regular-season games in 2025-26. The Timberwolves were out of sorts for most of a 119-114 loss to Golden State on Wednesday, before regrouping behind their new star Ball and the two-way excellence of McDaniels.

Ball made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves used a 20-2 surge to run away with the game. Each of their four victories have come by more than 20 points. McDaniels finished 11 for 15 from the floor, with seven assists and six rebounds.

Backup guard Jaylen Clark relieved McDaniels from some of the defensive duty on Darius Garland and helped force five turnovers by the Clippers star. Clark had five points, two steals and a plus-23 rating in 17 minutes.

Garland scored 24 points on 10-for-22 shooting and Brook Lopez added 13 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Clippers (1-4), who lost their fourth consecutive game. They've played so far without newcomers Brandon Ingram and Max Strus due to foot injuries.

Clippers rookie Keaton Wagler had 12 points on 2-for-11 shooting and was minus-24. Rui Hachimura returned to the starting lineup from a one-game absence (quadriceps) with 12 points in 26 minutes.

Clippers: At the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

Timberwolves: At the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) loses control of the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball, center, defends during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball dribbles downcourt during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball (1) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers forward Isaiah Jackson, right, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball (1) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)