The Mavericks and Detroit Pistons entered their rematch from last month’s meeting in Mexico City as the NBA’s leaders in clutch games.
That trend of down-to-the wire contests continued Thursday night at American Airlines Center as their latest meeting needed overtime to decide a winner.
A physical game led to the Mavericks escaping with a 116-114 win over one of the best teams in the NBA.
Cooper Flagg, who led Dallas with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, found Anthony Davis inside the paint for a dunk with 1:32 left in overtime that gave the Mavericks the lead for good. Neither team scored for the remainder of the game, a clutch contest that marked a league-leading 21st for Dallas and the 19th for Detroit.
Mavericks
“He finds a way,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said of Flagg. “Scoring or making a play, he did it.”
The Mavericks trailed by one with just under 30 seconds left in regulation when Flagg nailed a go-ahead midrange jumper to give his team a 110-109 lead with 19 seconds left. It was his second straight shot over the outstretched arms of Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart. After the game, Flagg revealed D’Angelo Russell offered him advice during the final few minutes.
“‘Get to your middy,’” Flagg said. “I thought I did a little better getting to my spot.”
On the next play, Davis attempted to intercept a pass thrown by Cade Cunningham but collided with Isaiah Stewart, leading to a trip to the free throw line. Stewart split the freebies to tie the game at 110. Klay Thompson had a chance to win the game in regulation, but missed a floater off the glass.
Wow. Cooper Flagg nails the go-ahead shot to give the Mavs a 110-109 lead, but Anthony Davis is called for a foul after chasing a loose ball with Isaiah Stewart.
Stewart split the free throws and we have a tie game at 110 with 3.4 seconds left. pic.twitter.com/vcynmysBuA
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) December 19, 2025
It’s not everyday that Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has access to use every player on his roster who isn’t sidelined by a long-term injury.
That was the case in Thursday’s feisty game against the Pistons, who entered the final matchup of the season with the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Davis, Naji Marshall, Brandon Williams and Russell were available despite their illnesses and ailments, giving the Mavericks a full allotment of their roster except for the injured Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum.
Both teams entered the game leading the NBA in clutch games, also known as contests that are within five points during the final five minutes of regulation. The Mavericks led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, but the Pistons roared back with a 25-9 run that tied the game at 95 in the fourth quarter.
Dallas improved to 11-17. Detroit dropped to 21-7.
All eyes were on Flagg, who was coming off his career-high of 42 points in Monday’s overtime loss to the Utah Jazz. The Mavericks didn’t require that amount of offensive production on Thursday, especially since Davis was back in the lineup.
That was the initial theory, but it was a well-balanced effort that propelled the Mavericks to their latest win. Six players across the starting unit and bench scored in double figures. Marshall fought through an illness and poured in 16 points. Brandon Williams had 14 points of the bench. PJ Washington and Max Christie added 13 points and 11 points, respectively.
Davis, who returned from a one-game absence because of a left calf contusion, scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds with three blocks. He also played through an illness and his first points of the game occurred at the 6:27 mark of the third quarter when he scored a floater.
Arlington native Cade Cunningham, who led the Pistons with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, threw down a one-handed dunk over Davis on the next play. That didn’t affect the Mavericks star, who drained a 3-pointer on the next possession. He revealed he vomited throughout the game, but wanted to remain on the floor to give his team a chance to remain competitive.
“Still feel under the weather,” Davis said. “I actually threw up twice during the game, but I’m just trying to compete. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win. Just leaving it all on the floor.”
Thursday marked Flagg’s first career 20-point double-double and his 11th game of at least 20 points. He has more 20-point games in NBA history than every other 18-year-old combined, except for LeBron James, who had 14. Flagg will turn 19 on Sunday.
Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff could not utilize his entire team, especially once tempers flared early in the game. With 5:09 left in the second quarter, Detroit lost its best point of attack defender when Ausar Thompson was ejected for making contact with a referee after a foul called against him. Thompson finished the game with eight points, two rebounds and two assists.
Bickerstaff, along with Cunningham also received technical fouls, stemming from their constant frustration with officiating throughout the night.
That didn’t deter the Mavericks from staying focused on their gameplan, which didn’t rely on any specific individual, moreso a balanced team effort. They also made a stand defensively with 15 blocks, the most in a game by any team in the NBA this season.
The Mavericks will try look to build on their latest clutch win with a two-game road trip in Philadelphia and New Orleans.
On Twitter/X: @MikeACurtis2
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