Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis powered the Dallas Mavericks to a 122-109 victory over Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets at home.
The win continues to build on the Mavericks’ hot stretch, as they have won four of their last five games to improve to 9-16.
Davis led the way with 29 points and eight rebounds, shooting an efficient 14-of-19 from the field and setting the tone on both ends, while Flagg added 19 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Brandon Williams contributed 20 points off the bench.
Davis came out with something to prove on Saturday after posting just two points on 1-of-9 shooting in Dallas’ 132-111 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
Fans took notice, praising Davis, Flagg and the Mavericks for a big win over the Rockets on the second night of their back-to-back.
Both teams entered halftime knotted at 57 apiece, with the Rockets led by Durant’s 20 points. Dallas’ Davis entered the break with 12 points while Flagg added nine.
The Mavericks outscored the Rockets by 17 points in the third quarter to take a decisive 94-77 lead into the final period. Houston attempted to battle back from a 22-point deficit with 9:14 remaining in the fourth, cutting it to 11, but Dallas closed it out with clutch plays from Davis and Flagg to secure the win.
In the loss, Houston’s Durant led the charge with 27 points and three assists, but his effort wasn’t enough as the Rockets dropped their own second night of a back-to-back, falling to 15-6 on the season.
Houston dropped from second in the Western Conference to fourth as the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets jumped them, both standing at 16-6.
Dallas will get a lengthy break before hosting the Brooklyn Nets next Friday.
