MIAMI, Fla. — Cooper Flagg finished with 29 points and 11 assists, and the Dallas Mavericks held off the Miami Heat 113-109 on Monday night at Kaseya Center.
Flagg did his best work late, scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter before making a key defensive play in the closing seconds. With 31 seconds left, he blocked Andrew Wiggins’ 3-point attempt, helping Dallas protect its lead and finish off the win.
The Mavericks also got 20 points from P.J. Washington and 18 from Kyrie Irving. Walter Clayton Jr. added 15 points off the bench as Dallas improved to 2-2.
Miami had its chances. The Heat erased an early deficit and built a 12-point lead in the second quarter, but Dallas answered before halftime, taking a 53-52 advantage into the break.
Neither team managed to pull away after halftime. Miami entered the fourth quarter ahead 84-83, setting up a tight finish that came down to execution in the final minutes.
Flagg supplied the scoring and the defensive stop Dallas needed to close it out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Miami with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. Davion Mitchell added 21 points, but the Heat struggled at the free-throw line, making just 14 of 25 attempts.
The loss dropped Miami to 0-4, while Dallas left South Florida with its second win of the season.
NEXT UP
The Mavericks host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Miami travels to face the Atlanta Hawks.
