Dallas — Kyshawn George scored a career-high 34 points, leading the Washington Wizards to a 117-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. The win dropped the Mavericks and their No. 1 overall pick to 0-2 for the season.
Newport native Cooper Flagg played a key role in a second-half comeback, helping Dallas rally from a 17-point deficit. Flagg scored nine consecutive points in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 18 points. Despite his strong effort, Dallas was unable to complete the comeback.
Anthony Davis had another rough outing to start his first full season with Dallas following the Luka Doncic trade. Davis missed two critical free throws with a chance to bring the Mavericks within two points with five minutes remaining. On the next possession, a poor pass from Davis to Flagg in the backcourt led to turnovers that swung momentum back to Washington.
Dallas struggled with ball control throughout the game, finishing with 21 turnovers after committing 16 in their season-opening 125-92 loss to San Antonio. Flagg was responsible for five turnovers, while P.J. Washington Jr. had eight turnovers in addition to his 18 points and nine rebounds.
Davis led Dallas with 27 points, consistent with his performance against the Spurs, but he again appeared unsettled around the rim, shooting 9 of 19 from the floor and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Flagg showcased his skills with several firsts in the first half, including his first career 3-pointer and dunk. He also impressed with a soaring two-handed dunk, a long jumper with a toe on the three-point line, and a crucial 3-pointer during the fourth-quarter push.
George was exceptionally efficient, shooting 11 of 15 from the field and 7 of 9 from beyond the arc. His performance was capped by a corner 3-pointer that extended the Wizards’ lead to 113-103 with two minutes left. He also contributed 11 rebounds.
Rookie Tre Johnson, a former Texas Longhorn and the sixth overall pick who played high school basketball in Dallas, scored 10 of his 17 points in the second quarter.
Up next for the Wizards is their home opener against Charlotte on Sunday.
https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/10/24/cooper-flagg-scores-18-points-mavs-fall-to-0-2/
