Cooper Flagg Leads Dallas Past Miami as Oklahoma City and Houston Stay Perfect
Cooper Flagg led Dallas to a 113-109 win over Miami with 29 points and a clutch block. Oklahoma City, Houston, and Memphis kept perfect records, while Golden State secured its first victory.
Dallas Mavericks secured a 113-109 road victory over the Miami Heat, driven by a stellar performance from 19-year-old rookie Cooper Flagg, who recorded 29 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 blocks. Flagg sealed the win with a crucial block on Andrew Wiggins' three-point attempt with 31 seconds remaining, scoring 12 of his points in the final quarter. PJ Washington added 20 points and Kyrie Irving contributed 18.
On the other side, Giannis Antetokounmpo notched his first triple-double in a Miami uniform with 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Davion Mitchell chipped in 21 points. The Heat led by 12 points in the first half and 10 in the third quarter but suffered their fourth consecutive loss to start the season, largely due to hitting just 14 of 25 free throws.
Cleveland Cavaliers survived a thrilling 127-125 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite an extraordinary 47-point explosion from Anthony Edwards. Donovan Mitchell paced the Cavaliers with 26 points, including 5 in overtime, while James Harden added 19 points and Evan Mobley contributed 18. Harden forced overtime with a clutch basket with 10.4 seconds left in regulation, and Mitchell secured the win with a key shot in the extra period.
Boston Celtics rolled to a 134-99 home victory over the Chicago Bulls, powered by Payton Pritchard's 28 points. Pritchard caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 19 points by hitting all five of his three-point attempts without a miss. Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists as the Celtics dominated from the opening tip.
Oklahoma City Thunder maintained a perfect 4-0 record with a 125-114 victory over the Phoenix Suns, overcoming a severe injury crisis. AJ Mitchell stepped into the starting lineup and set a career high with 30 points, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 26 points. Milwaukee Bucks claimed their first win of the season by defeating the Indiana Pacers 110-102, sparked by Tyler Herro's 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Houston Rockets improved to 4-0 by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 120-110, led by Alperen Sengun's near triple-double of 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. Memphis Grizzlies also preserved their unbeaten 4-0 status with a 110-105 win over the Utah Jazz, anchored by Cedric Coward's double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Charlotte Hornets topped the Washington Wizards 110-103 behind a career-high 39 points from Brandon Miller. Finally, Golden State Warriors earned their first win of the campaign by dismantling the Denver Nuggets 134-114, as rookie Yaxel Landborg shined with 31 points and 12 rebounds alongside Stephen Curry's 24 points.
