DALLAS — Cooper Flagg scored a career-high 29 points, Naji Marshall hit the go-ahead 3-pointer against his former team with 30.7 seconds left and Dallas beat New Orleans in NBA Cup play.

The 3-pointer by Marshall, who played four seasons with New Orleans before signing with Dallas in July 2024, put the Mavericks ahead 116-115.

The Pelicans missed three three-pointers in the closing seconds, the last attempt from rookie centre Derik Queen with four seconds left after Dallas’ Max Christie made two free throws with 10.9 seconds to go. The Mavericks’ P.J. Washington Jr. grabbed the rebound amid a crowd on the baseline, and the teams scuffled after the final buzzer.

Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick last summer, was 12 of 19 from the field and had seven rebounds and five assists after sitting ou

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