The Dallas Mavericks avoided a total collapse and held on for a 116–114 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons, punctuated by Cooper Flagg’s jaw-dropping poster over Cade Cunningham. Early in the night, the Mavericks rookie took flight against the Pistons star and shook the American Airlines Center. The dunk set the tone. It cut through the standings gap. Detroit arrived at 21–5, No. 1 in the East. Dallas entered 10–17, No. 12 in the West. For one flash, the Mavericks owned the floor.

The play came fast. Flagg attacked the lane with intent. Cade Cunningham stepped up. Flagg rose anyway and finished with authority. The bench jumped. The crowd roared. That energy carried into a wild game that refused to settle. The Mavericks built control and pushed the lead as high as 18. The Pistons answered late, storming back with a 31–19 fourth-quarter run that forced overtime. Tension filled the building. Every possession mattered.

How the Mavericks closed and what Cooper Flagg delivered

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Overtime was tight and tense. As a result, shots were scarce and defense ruled. Still, the Mavericks held on with a 6–4 edge in the extra period to secure a 116–114 win. It wasn’t pretty, but it was composed. Overall, Dallas finished at 45 percent from the field, while the Pistons managed just 39 percent. Meanwhile, both teams struggled from deep. In fact, neither cracked 20 percent from three. Ultimately, this one lived in the paint and at the line.

Meanwhile, Flagg’s stat line backed the highlight. He finished with 23 points on 8-of-20 shooting, went a perfect 7-for-7 at the stripe, and pulled down 10 rebounds. Along with that, he added four assists and three blocks. Impact everywhere. Cade Cunningham battled, but in the end, the moment belonged to the rookie.

The dunk will loop everywhere. However, the win will matter more. For the Mavericks, this night blended flash with resolve. More importantly, Cooper Flagg showed he can lift a crowd and steady a game. And as Dallas looks ahead, one question lingers. If this is the tone, how loud can the next statement be?