The Dallas Mavericks have had one of their most tumultuous calendar years in franchise history, but they appear intent on closing out 2025 on a high note.
Winners of six of their past eight games, the Mavericks will look to continue their hot streak when they face the host Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has been a key part of Dallas’ recent surge, which includes a 116-114 home win over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
Flagg will turn 19 on Sunday, one day after taking on a Philadelphia team that has won five of its last seven games. The Sixers recorded an impressive 116-107 road victory over the New York Knicks on Friday.
Flagg had 23 points and 10 rebounds in Dallas’ win over Detroit, while Naji Marshall added 16 points. After a slow start, Flagg is averaging 25.4 points over his last eight games. He scored a career-high 42 points in an overtime loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Not bad for someone who can be called a teenager for another year.
“Coop is really amazing at basketball,” Marshall said. “He’s a dog on both ends of the floor. Every game somebody guards him with their best defender, and he just goes out and proves that he’s the No. 1 pick and why he was the No. 1 pick. Pledge allegiance to the Flagg.”
Dallas also received a boost from veteran Anthony Davis, who returned after missing one game with a left calf contusion and had 15 points and 14 rebounds against the Pistons.
After going 5-15 to begin the season, the Mavericks have posted wins over contending teams such as the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and the Pistons this month.
“It shows how much fight we have in our guys and how much we love the game and how much we truly want to win,” Marshall said. “It’s not easy out here and it’s been a lot of rough patches in the season that we’re trying to make up for right now with good basketball. … I’m proud of my guys.”
Dallas faces another tough matchup against Philadelphia, which snapped the Knicks’ seven-game winning streak on Friday. The Sixers played without star Joel Embiid, who sat out due to an illness and right knee injury management.
With Embiid sidelined, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe helped Philadelphia hand the Knicks just their second home loss of the season.
Maxey returned after missing two games due to illness and had 30 points and nine assists. Edgecombe scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half to lead the Sixers, who won despite being outrebounded 57-36.
Edgecombe continued his stellar rookie campaign with a strong defensive effort against Knicks star Jalen Brunson and filled the box score with three rebounds, four assists and two steals.
“That’s what 77 (Edgecombe) does, man,” Maxey said. “He plays extremely hard, he puts a lot on the floor every single night and we appreciate him for that.”
While Edgecombe proved to be the difference-maker in the fourth quarter on Friday, the Sixers received contributions throughout their lineup. Andre Drummond had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Jared McCain scored 12 points off the bench.
“We’ve got a really good group,” Maxey said. “(Paul George) and (Embiid) let us flow into it, and you’ve got to appreciate those veterans. Everyone’s doing a really good job of just playing together.”
