Kevin Durant shows ‘love’ to Cooper Flagg after the duel

The The Dallas Mavericks needed answers after a tough stretchand wild night against the houston rockets delivered something else instead: a generational duel between Kevin Durant and Cooper Flagg. The match gave Durant fans full command, the Rockets pushed every possession and Flagg rises with a dunk it changed the energy of the American Airline Arena. The Mavericks struggled for control. But The rockets always drove them back.

Kevin Durant entered the game just after his 31,000 point celebrationand he played like that. Now in his 18th NBA season, he scored 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting, kept every rotation honest and forced the Mavericks to adjust for long stretches. Still, Anthony Davis outplayed him on the glass and in the paint, finishing with 29 points on 14-of-19 shooting and eight rebounds in 30 minutes to turn the battle around. The game remained close at halftime at 57–57. Then the Mavericks exploded in the third, building a 17-point lead behind tighter spacing and cleaner defensive stops.

Mavericks, Durant’s praise and Flagg’s rise

Cooper Flagg kept the Mavericks alive with his aggression, but one play stood out more than anything in his box score. His drive, his rise, the impact, the flash of what Dallas hopes for, becomes the foundation. And Durant noticed. “It wasn’t until he was watching his film that he finally realized … he can shoot the midrange jump shot, he can shoot the 3, he can get to the rim. I love his game,” Durant said after the loss, offering the kind of praise that stamps a rising star.

Kevin Durant on Cooper Flagg:

“Just from watching his film, he finally figured it out … he can shoot the midrange jump shot, he can shoot the 3, he can get to the rim. I love his game.” pic.twitter.com/diUREIhISB

— Oh no, it’s not (@ohnohedidnt24) December 7, 2025

The Rockets tried to rally late, but the Mavericks held firm and wrapped up the win they needed. Dallas climbed to 9–16, still 12th in the West, but more stable after a chaotic stretch. The Rockets fell to 15-6, but are still fourth, followed by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Mavericks drew the Brooklyn Nets.

If this is just the first chapter of Kevin Durant vs. Cooper Flagg, how electric will their rematch be when the Rockets meet the Mavericks on Jan. 3?