P.J. Washington scored a season-high 26 points and Cooper Flagg added 21 as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz 112-100 in NBA Cup group play Friday.
Washington made six of 10 three-pointers and scored 22 points before halftime, keeping Dallas close during a competitive opening half. The teams entered the break tied at 57 before Flagg and Kyrie Irving took control after the interval.
Flagg scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, finishing with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Irving added 14 points, with 12 coming after halftime, after starting the game 1-of-11 from the field.
The pair combined for 21 points during a decisive 22-10 Dallas run late in the third quarter. Their scoring turned a one-point deficit into an 81-70 lead, giving the Mavericks control heading into the final period.
Morez Johnson Jr. also delivered a major contribution off the bench. The rookie recorded 13 points and 17 rebounds, securing his first NBA double-double with a one-handed alley-oop dunk.
Johnson’s 17 rebounds tied his season high, while his 13 points matched his previous best. Dallas stretched its advantage to 16 before Josh Okogie hit a three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer.
Washington then hit his sixth three-pointer to help the Mavericks maintain a double-digit cushion throughout the fourth quarter. Dallas finished with 55 rebounds, compared with Utah’s 41.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points and eight rebounds, while rookie Darryn Peterson added 21 points. Keyonte George contributed 16 points and nine assists, but Utah could not stop its losing streak.
The defeat was Utah’s seventh straight, dropping the team to 1-8. The Jazz shot 44% from the field and made 15 of 39 three-point attempts.
Dallas improved to 5-4 after winning its second consecutive game. Santi Aldama also made his Mavericks debut, contributing eight points and nine rebounds in 13 minutes after missing time since February 4 last season.
Aldama joined Dallas in a six-team trade during the summer and had undergone right knee surgery in March. His return gives the Mavericks another frontcourt option as the season progresses.
The Mavericks host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, November 8, while Utah visits the Minnesota Timberwolves the same day.
