DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 22 points and delivered a soaring one-handed dunk during a decisive run, helping the Dallas Mavericks secure a 139-129 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. This marked the Mavericks’ first win with the No. 1 overall pick.
Anthony Davis contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds as Dallas won the third of five consecutive home games to start the season. The Mavericks will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder the following night to complete a back-to-back set.
For Toronto, Scottie Barnes led the charge with 33 points and 11 rebounds. The Raptors will remain in Texas to play another game on Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs.
Flagg sparked a 13-0 Mavericks run in the third quarter, beginning with a key basket. He capped the run by receiving a bounce pass from D’Angelo Russell in transition, dunking over Sandro Mamukelashvili, and drawing a foul. The ensuing free throw pushed Dallas ahead 95-85.
The one-and-done Duke star stopped a 7-0 Toronto surge with a crucial 3-pointer, reaching 20 points for the first time and extending Dallas’s lead to 12 midway through the fourth quarter.
P.J. Washington contributed to keeping Toronto in the game with a pair of three-point plays and a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. He finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Russell led the Mavericks bench, scoring 24 points and dishing out a team-high six assists, joining three other double-figure scorers off the bench. Max Christie added 17 points, while Naji Marshall made all four of his field goal attempts and free throws, finishing with 12 points.
For the Raptors, Brandon Ingram scored 22 points, with RJ Barrett and Sandro Mamukelashvili each adding 16 points.
### Up Next
**Raptors:** The Texas trip continues with a third game in four nights, following their home opener on Friday.
**Mavericks:** After hosting the Thunder, Dallas will wrap up their unusual five-game homestand to start the season against Indiana, a team that lost to Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals.
___
