Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg Hand Rockets First Loss

Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, Cooper Flagg added 33, and the Dallas Mavericks rallied to beat the Houston Rockets 116-111 on Friday night, handing Houston its first loss of the season in an NBA Cup opener.

The Rockets came into the night unbeaten, and now Memphis (5-0) is the only team left without a loss. For Dallas, beating Kevin Durant and a 5-0 Houston team in a tight finish is the kind of win that makes the rest of the league pay attention.

Kyrie Took Over the Second Half

Irving scored 26 of his 35 after halftime. His jumper put Dallas ahead for good at 102-100, and he went 12 of 19 from the field, including 5 of 8 from deep. Houston had grabbed a seven-point lead in the second quarter behind Jabari Smith Jr., but Kyrie dragged the Mavs back.

He also went 6 for 6 at the line. That stretches the NBA's longest active streak of made free throws to 54, a run that dates to before he missed 19 months with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Flagg Delivered When It Counted

The finish was nervy. Durant, a career 88% free throw shooter, missed two with the Rockets down two and 1:53 left. Later, Amen Thompson also missed a pair with 42 seconds to go. Both times, Flagg answered with a clutch bucket at the other end, including a three-point play.

Flagg finished 13 of 19 from the field with nine rebounds and six assists. Daniel Gafford added 18, including two free throws with Dallas up one and 11 seconds left, and Irving iced it at the line after Dallas fouled on purpose twice to protect a three-point lead.

Durant led Houston with 28 and Smith had 22, but the Rockets shot just 24 of 33 from the line. In a five-point game, that was the difference.

What Is Next

There is no time to sulk in Houston. The Rockets (5-1) host the Thunder on Saturday night. The Mavericks (4-2) get a couple of days off before hosting the Kings on Monday night.

My Smacktok lean: go higher on Irving's points against the Kings. He is the guy Dallas runs its late offense through, and he just showed he can take over a half when the Mavs need it.

Kyrie and Flagg are starting to look like a real closing duo. If they keep finishing like this, Dallas is going to be a problem in the West.