Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks fell 133-127 to the Los Angeles Clippers in NBA Cup Group Play on Friday at home, as James Harden made history with the Clippers’ first 40-point triple-double.
Harden finished with 41 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists on 13-of-25 shooting. Ivica Zubac added 27 points and 11 rebounds as Los Angeles improved to 2-0 in Group B and 4-8 overall.
For Dallas, Flagg scored 16 points with five rebounds, showing promise despite the team’s struggles. D’Angelo Russell added 28 points on 11-of-24 shooting with five assists and two steals, providing a spark that briefly kept the Mavericks competitive.
The loss dropped Dallas to 3-10 on the season and 0-2 in Group B, extending their skid in the first week since parting ways with general manager Nico Harrison.
Fans reacted to Harden’s historic night for Los Angeles.
The Clippers held a seven-point halftime lead, paced by 23 points from Harden and 12 from Zubac. For the Mavericks, Flagg had just four points at the break and went scoreless in the second quarter, while Thompson added 13 and Marshall led the way with 14.
Los Angeles carried a narrow 93-86 advantage into the fourth quarter, but Dallas continued to mount a comeback, tying it at 110 on a Russell jump shot and again at 112 on a Russell layup with 1:24 remaining.
Russell kept the Mavericks alive, scoring eight straight points to single-handedly battle the Clippers and send the game into overtime tied at 114.
Despite an electric performance from Flagg in the first overtime, the game went into a second extra period, where Derrick Jones Jr. helped pull the Clippers away, sinking crucial free throws to seal the win.
