DALLAS, TEXAS — The Mavericks held off New Orleans in a tight 118–115 win, moving to 3–2 in their last five against the Pelicans and drilling 16 threes for the second straight game. Dallas also had three starters — Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington Jr. and Max Christie — crack 20 points, and the team finished with 30 assists.
Cooper Flagg stole the spotlight with a career-best 29 points, scoring the Mavs’ final 12 and joining LeBron James as the only 18-year-olds with multiple 20-5-5 games. Max Christie added a season-high 23 with five threes, while P.J. Washington Jr. posted 24 points, nine boards and three blocks.
Brandon Williams tied his career high with 12 assists, keeping Dallas’ offense humming.
For New Orleans, Derik Queen logged his first career double-double, and the Pelicans tallied a season-high 15 steals, but Flagg’s fourth-quarter surge proved the difference.
