Cooper Flagg pretty much grabbed the Dallas Mavericks on his back Monday night, willing them to a massive 113-109 road win against the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center. This wasn’t just any win, either. It dropped the Heat to a brutal 0-4 record, marking their absolute worst start to a season in the entire Erik Spoelstra era.
Cooper Flagg Went Full Superstar in Miami
When you talk about a complete game, Flagg delivered. His final stat line screams it: 29 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks in 40 minutes. He was everywhere! Early on, he was the setup man, dropping two dimes to get Kyrie Irving rolling, including a sick lob for Irving’s first bucket. Seriously, four assists in under four minutes, five in the first quarter alone. He even pulled off a fancy up-and-under dipsy-do finish after a Daniel Gafford offensive rebound to get his own scoring going early. This kid is electric.
But Flagg really showed up when it counted. He snagged a crucial steal off Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first half and immediately dished his sixth assist to PJ Washington on the break, keeping Dallas close. Then, with just over a minute left in the half, his first 3-pointer of the game tied things up at 50-50, part of a huge 17-5 Mavericks run that swung momentum. He might’ve been quiet in the third, but he exploded in the clutch. With five minutes left, he hit an insane and-one turnaround jumper through a foul from Pelle Larson, part of an 18-7 Dallas run that pushed his total to 22 points. And if that wasn’t enough, he one-upped himself with two minutes left, splashing his second 3-pointer to put the Mavs up 111-105. He poured in 12 of his 29 points in that final quarter alone, willing Dallas to their second win. Sensational defense all game, too. What a performance!
Mavs Find Their Edge, Even Against a Greek Freak Show
While Flagg was the undeniable star, this was a team that found ways to win. Walter Clayton Jr. came off the bench and was super efficient in his minutes, a real spark plug. PJ Washington continued his string of quality play to start the season, adding to the offensive attack, and let’s not forget he was on the receiving end of one of Flagg’s key assists. They needed every bit of it, because Miami’s superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, went absolutely ballistic. He racked up a massive triple-double with 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, leading all scorers. Yet, even with that kind of effort from their star, the Heat couldn’t close it out.
Kyrie Irving, Flagg’s backcourt mate, got out to a hot start too, dropping seven points in the game’s first five minutes, acting as the primary engine for the offense early on. But when things got tough, Flagg stepped up huge. This win truly feels like a statement for the Mavericks at this early point in the 2026-27 season. The arrow is definitely pointing upward, and it’s making for some incredibly exciting, fun basketball to watch right now.
With this road win, the Dallas Mavericks are showing they’re not just playing around. They are already 2-2, and with performances like Flagg’s, there’s a real buzz building around this team. The season is young, but early signs like this are what you crave as a fan. You gotta savor these moments and look forward to what’s coming next. This team looks ready to make some noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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