The Dallas Mavericks secured a 113-109 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday, extending Miami’s early-season struggles to 0-4. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 29 points and 11 assists, including a pivotal block on Andrew Wiggins’ three-point attempt in the final 31 seconds that preserved the Mavericks’ lead. Flagg, 19, also contributed six rebounds, five steals, and three blocks, scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter alone. PJ Washington added 20 points, Kyrie Irving had 18, and Walter Clayton Jr. contributed 15 for Dallas.
For Miami, Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his first triple-double since joining the team, posting 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists. Davion Mitchell led the Heat with 21 points. Miami fell behind early and struggled to regain momentum despite a strong second-quarter run. The team is now 0-4 for the fifth time in franchise history and the first occasion since the 2008-09 season.
In Houston, the Rockets continued their undefeated start with a 121-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Alperen Sengun just missed a triple-double with 29 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds. Kevin Durant scored 22 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 16 points, five assists, and led the team with 12 rebounds. The Rockets have started the season 4-0 and swept the Hawks in consecutive meetings this week, having won 121-114 in Atlanta on Saturday.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Hawks narrowed Houston’s lead to 95-93 after a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Nickeil Alexander-Walker. However, the Rockets responded with a 14-0 run featuring three-pointers from Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason that put the game firmly out of reach.
The Oklahoma City Thunder maintained their perfect start at 4-0 with a 117-108 win over the Phoenix Suns, despite battling injuries to key players. Ajay Mitchell scored a career-high 30 points, supported by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 26 points. Oklahoma City played without starters Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, both sidelined by serious injuries requiring surgery sustained in the previous game.
On the road in Denver, the Golden State Warriors recorded their first win of the season with a 123-102 victory over the Nuggets. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Stephen Curry scored 24 points, with 21 coming in the second half. Golden State shot 54.1% overall and made 22 of 44 three-pointers, outrebounding Denver 50-36. Nikola Jokic had 19 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists but was subbed out with the Nuggets trailing by 21 late in the game.
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers edged the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-125 in overtime. Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, including five in the extra period, while James Harden added 19 points. Despite Anthony Edwards’ 47-point effort for Minnesota, the Cavaliers secured their fourth straight home win against the Timberwolves. Rookie Meleek Thomas contributed 16 points in his NBA debut.
The Milwaukee Bucks claimed their first victory of the season with a 113-99 win over the Indiana Pacers, avoiding a start of 0-4 for the first time since 1976-77. Tyler Herro led Milwaukee with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Ryan Rollins added 19 points, and Kel’el Ware posted 16 points and 14 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton scored 22 points with nine assists.
The Charlotte Hornets secured a 119-111 win against the Washington Wizards, improving to 3-1 on the season. Brandon Miller scored a career-high 39 points, including a dominant stretch in the second and third quarters. The Hornets have managed to navigate injuries to key players Coby White, Kon Knueppel, and Grant Williams, each of whom remains sidelined.