Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving lift Mavericks past Jazz in 112-100 win
Dallas overcame a 57-all halftime tie as Flagg and Irving combined for 31 points in the second half to secure the victory.
By Tessa Cooper ·
The Dallas Mavericks erased a sluggish first-half performance by their two leading scorers to defeat the Utah Jazz 112-100 on Friday night in an NBA Cup game. Cooper Flagg finished with 21 points and Kyrie Irving added 14, but both players found their range only after a deadlocked first half.
P.J. Washington carried the offense early, scoring 22 of his season-high 26 points before the break. His shooting efficiency helped Dallas reach a 57-all tie at halftime, setting the stage for a second-half surge by the franchise's two stars.
Flagg and Irving dominated the second half, combining for 31 points after struggling from the field initially. Irving started the game 1 of 11 from the field but scored 12 of his 14 points after the break. Flagg, who had a quieter scoring first half, recorded six rebounds and six assists before finishing with 10 boards and seven dimes.
The turning point came in the third quarter when Flagg and Irving scored 21 points on a 22-10 run. That sequence shifted the momentum from a one-point deficit to an 81-70 lead. The Mavericks extended the advantage after Irving left the floor, with Morez Johnson Jr. adding a one-handed alley-oop dunk to secure his first career double-double.
For the Jazz, the loss marked their seventh straight defeat, dropping their record to 1-8. Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 24 points, while rookie Darryn Peterson contributed 21. Dallas forward Santi Aldama returned from a right knee injury suffered in March, playing his first game since February 4 of last season. He recorded eight points and nine rebounds in his debut with the Mavericks following a six-team trade in the summer.
