Cooper Flagg scored a career-high 35 points as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 114-110 on the second night of a back-to-back on the road.
With 35 points on Saturday, Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 35 in a game, joining LeBron James as the only 18-year-olds to score 30 or more points.
Flagg added eight rebounds and two assists, shooting 59 percent from the field in his career night. Klay Thompson contributed 23 points, going 60 percent from the three-point line.
Dallas snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, improving to 6-15 and climbing two spots to 12th in the Western Conference.
Fans praised Flagg’s performance despite the tough stretch for Dallas.
Clippers’ James Harden led the charge with 29 points and eight rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard added 30, but their efforts weren’t enough as the surging Mavericks overcame the Clippers, who fell to 5-15, extending their losing streak to four games and sliding further down the standings.
The Clippers held a seven-point lead at halftime, with Harden finishing the half with 12 points and John Collins adding 14, while Dallas’ Flagg entered the break with 21 points.
Both teams traded baskets down the stretch, with Flagg notching a career-high on a jumper with 2:47 left in the fourth to take a 101-100 lead. Flagg added clutch free throws late to help secure the victory.
Dallas will remain on the road to face the Denver Nuggets on Monday.
