NBA Roundup: Cooper Flagg sparks Mavs’ first win, Reaves drops 51 for Lakers, and Timberwolves edge Pacers

No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg made his presence felt on Sunday night, scoring 22 points with a highlight-reel dunk as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Toronto Raptors 139–129, securing their first win of the new NBA season.

Flagg’s electric energy fueled a 13–0 third-quarter run, capped by a soaring one-handed dunk off a bounce pass from D’Angelo Russell, which ignited the home crowd and gave Dallas a 95–85 lead. The 19-year-old rookie later buried a clutch 3-pointer to halt a late Toronto surge, marking his first 20-point performance in the league.

Anthony Davis led the Mavericks with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Russell chipped in 24 points and a team-high six assists. P.J. Washington added 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists to round out a balanced Dallas effort.

For Toronto, Scottie Barnes stood out with 33 points and 11 rebounds, continuing his strong early-season form. Brandon Ingram added 22 points, while RJ Barrett and Sandro Mamukelashvili each contributed 16.

The Mavericks (3–2) continue their home stretch on Monday against defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Raptors (1–3) head to San Antonio to face the Spurs.

Timberwolves edge Pacers 114–110 despite Edwards injury

The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled out a gritty 114–110 win over the injury-depleted Indiana Pacers, even as star guard Anthony Edwards exited early with hamstring tightness. Julius Randle carried Minnesota offensively, scoring 31 points — 20 of them in the first half — while Rudy Gobert dominated the paint with 14 points and 19 rebounds. Despite Edwards’ early exit, the Wolves found support from Donte DiVincenzo (17 points) and Naz Reid (16 points, 10 rebounds).

The Pacers, already missing Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, relied on Pascal Siakam, who dropped 33 points and nearly led a comeback. His late 3-pointer cut Minnesota’s lead to 110–108, but Jaden McDaniels responded with a clutch finger-roll to seal the game.

Minnesota improved to 2–1 in their home opener, highlighted by a lively atmosphere and a nod to nostalgia with the return of their iconic all-black “pine tree” uniforms from the Kevin Garnett era. The Pacers (0–3) will now look for their first win as they visit Dallas on Wednesday.

Clippers beat Blazers 114–107 amid coaching turmoil

The Los Angeles Clippers overcame a shaky first half to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 114–107, in what was Portland’s second game since the shocking arrest of head coach Chauncey Billups.

Kawhi Leonard led the way with 30 points and 10 rebounds, while James Harden added 20 points and 13 assists. Ivica Zubac contributed 21 points and eight rebounds as the Clippers (2–1) outscored the Blazers 32–22 in the third quarter to swing the momentum.

The Blazers, coached by interim head coach Tiago Splitter following Billups’ suspension, were led by Deni Avdija’s 23 points. Jrue Holiday added 21, Shaedon Sharpe had 19, and Jerami Grant finished with 17. The Clippers have now won 19 of their last 21 meetings with Portland, extending a dominant run dating back to the 2019–20 season. Next up, they’ll face the Golden State Warriors, while Portland travels to Los Angeles again to take on the Lakers.

Austin Reaves explodes for 51 as Lakers down Kings 127–120

Austin Reaves had a night to remember, dropping a career-high 51 points to lift the Los Angeles Lakers past the Sacramento Kings 127–120 at Crypto.com Arena. With LeBron James still sidelined and Luka Doncic ruled out with injuries, Reaves stepped into the spotlight, shooting 12-for-22 from the field and hitting six 3-pointers while adding nine assists and 11 rebounds.

Related: Luka Doncic makes NBA history with back-to-back 40-point double-doubles to open the season

Reaves became just the fourth player in 40 years to record at least 50 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists in a single game, joining elite company that includes Doncic, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.

DeAndre Ayton added 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura scored 18 as the Lakers improved to 3–1 on the season. For Sacramento, Zach LaVine led with 32 points, and DeMar DeRozan added 21. Domantas Sabonis finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds, but the Kings couldn’t stop Reaves’ late scoring burst.

With 15 points in the fourth quarter alone, Reaves sealed the game with four free throws in the final 30 seconds. The Lakers will now face the Trail Blazers, while the Kings head to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder.