Flagg's 29 Tops Zion, Mavs Edge Pelicans

Merlin sees Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks notch a 118-114 NBA Cup win over Zion Williamson’s Pelicans. Flagg, the No. 1 pick, poured in a career-high 29 points with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals; No. 13 pick Derik Queen finished with 20-7-11. Dallas moved to 5-12 overall and grabbed its first Cup victory (1-2 in group play), while New Orleans fell to 2-14 and an eight-game skid. The Pelicans led 63-49 at halftime, but a late Flagg basket after a steal, a Naji Marshall three and a P.J. Washington block decided the game; Anthony Davis remained out. Merlin knows this matters beyond one box score: Flagg is flashing scoring, playmaking and clutch instincts that merit attention, while Queen and Zion can’t carry a thin Pelicans roster alone. Dallas still needs consistency, but tonight’s finish suggests the rookie’s star path is real — and the rookie-of-the-year debate between former Montverde teammates just got louder.