Cooper Flagg scored 30 of his season-high 43 points in the second half and Kyrie Irving added 35 as the Dallas Mavericks overturned a 13-point deficit to post a thrilling 125-122 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
Flagg hit 16 of 25 from the floor, and compiled 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals, while Irving drilled 7-of-10 3-pointers.
Flagg, 19, became the second teenager to post a 40-10-5 game — after Kevin Durant for the Seattle SuperSonics in the last game of the 2007-08 season.
Pascal Siakam scored 26 of his 29 points in the first half for Indiana and also had nine boards and eight assists.
Aaron Nesmith had 18 points and Ivica Zubac had 16.
After two Irving free throws put the Mavericks up 125-122 with 18 seconds left, Nesmith missed a 3-pointer, which P.J. Washington rebounded and was quickly fouled.
He missed both from the stripe, giving the Pacers one last chance, but Andrew Nembhard’s inbound with 3.7 seconds remaining was stolen by Caleb Martin in a heavy mid-air collision with Siakam which went unwhistled.
After Indiana led 31-26 at the first break, Irving put Dallas in front 43-39 with two 3-pointers and a jumper in the space of 90 seconds, before Siakam piloted a 13-0 Pacers response.
The visitors’ lead blew out to 63-50 when the red-hot Siakam buried his fifth three, which he followed with a chef’s kiss to celebrate.
At that stage, Siakam had 25 points, on a perfect 8 of 8 from the field, 5 of 5 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 free throws.
Flagg poured in 14 third-quarter points on 6 of 6 from the floor, and Irving added 10, to pilot the Mavericks’ fightback.
Irving’s left-handed drive over Siakam squared the score at 84, before the Pacers edged back ahead 93-90 with one to play.
Flagg and Irving continued to fire in the fourth.
Flagg’s 3-pointer to start the quarter leveled the score, before Irving’s seventh three gave Dallas the lead.
After Flagg buried another trey and a string of free throws and mid-rangers, as the Mavs’ advantage increased to 116-108, they staved off Indiana’s late rally.
–Field Level Media
