‘Thank goodness he’s on our team’: Cooper Flagg makes history, Dallas Mavericks keep stacking wins

With the Dallas Mavericks down 13 points late in the first half on the second night of a back-to-back, Monday night at American Airlines Center looked very much like a schedule loss. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving had other ideas, though, as they combined for 78 points, fueling Dallas past the Indiana Pacers in a wild finish, 125-122.

The win was the Mavericks’ third straight and moved Dallas to 7-4 on the season. It also put the Mavs three games over .500 for the first time since March 1, 2025, a date that feels a lot longer ago than it actually is for anyone who has lived through the last two years of Mavericks basketball.

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Think about where this franchise was not long ago. The Luka Doncic trade. Irving’s torn ACL. A 26-56 season and back-to-back years without a playoff appearance. Oddsmakers set Dallas’ win total at 34.5 before this season, and after an opening stretch that included Houston, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, a lot of people expected the Mavs to be scrapping just to stay afloat by mid-November.

Instead, the Mavs are stacking wins, Flagg looks like an MVP candidate in year two, and Irving looks like his old self before the ACL injury happened. Most importantly, the way the Mavs are winning these games feels sustainable. Here are some of the biggest storylines from Monday night’s thriller.

Flagg Climbs Even Higher in the Teenage Record Books

DALLAS, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks during the first half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Flagg was good in the first half, but he was on an entirely different level in the second.

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The 19-year-old star scored 30 of his season-high 43 points after halftime, including 14 on 6-of-6 shooting in the third quarter and 16 more in the fourth. He finished 16-of-25 from the field, 3-of-6 from 3-point range and a…

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Publish date : 2026-11-10 18:26:00

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