Sports
Flagg’s late block seals Dallas win as Miami drops to 0-4
Cooper Flagg scored 29 points and stopped a potential go-ahead shot in the final minute as the Mavericks beat the Heat 113-109 in Miami. The loss left Miami winless through four games for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat 113-109 on Monday, Oct. 26, in Miami, extending the Heat’s season-opening skid to four games.
Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 29 points and 11 assists. With 31 seconds remaining and the Mavericks ahead by two, Flagg blocked Andrew Wiggins’ 3-point attempt, preserving Dallas’ lead. The 19-year-old also recorded six rebounds, five steals and three blocks, including 12 points in the fourth quarter.
PJ Washington scored 20 points for Dallas, Kyrie Irving had 18 and Walter Clayton Jr. added 15.
Miami’s Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 29 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists for his first triple-double since joining the Heat. Davion Mitchell scored 21. Miami missed 11 of its 25 free throws.
The Heat fell behind 19-11 in the first quarter, then outscored Dallas 37-17 over the next 12 minutes to build their largest lead of the season, 12 points. Dallas moved ahead 53-52 by halftime. Miami briefly led by 10 in the third quarter, but went into the final period up just 84-83. The Mavericks reclaimed the lead midway through the fourth and held on.
It is the fifth time in franchise history Miami has opened a season 0-4, and the first since 2008-09. The teams’ next games are Wednesday: Dallas hosts Oklahoma City, while Miami visits Atlanta.
Monday’s game was the first between Dallas coach Dusty May and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. May previously coached Florida Atlantic, near Miami, to the 2023 Final Four and led Michigan to the 2026 NCAA title. Spoelstra called May “a heck of a coach.”