What happened: Dallas closed out Houston down the stretch as Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving traded critical baskets in the final minutes. Daniel Gafford secured an offensive putback above the rim, while Houston missed opportunities at the foul line following an overturned charge call against Amen Thompson.

Why it matters: The poise late demonstrated growing chemistry between the veteran Irving and rookie Flagg as Dallas navigates early group play in the NBA Cup. For Houston, late execution faltered despite Kevin Durant generating rim pressure, underscoring areas for adjustment as the Mavericks establish footing in the Western Conference standings.

What to watch: Dallas looks to carry late-game momentum into its upcoming schedule, while Houston focuses on tightening late-game offensive sets and free-throw conversion.