The Dallas Mavericks held off a late surge from the New Orleans Pelicans to win 118-115 in a nail-biting NBA Cup group stage game on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The win wasn’t pretty, but it was decisive — thanks to a 29-point explosion from forward Flagg and a cold-blooded three-pointer from guard Marshall with 18 seconds left. The game, part of the NBA’s bold new tournament experiment, exposed just how thin the Pelicans’ roster has become — and how much the Mavericks are learning to win under pressure.
The Injury Crisis That Changed the Game
The Pelicans entered this game already shorthanded. Guard Jordan Poole, their leading scorer from the season’s opening weeks, was sidelined with a quad strain suffered during their November 5 win. Center Karlo Matkovic, the 22-year-old Croatian prospect who’d shown flashes of defensive brilliance, was ruled out after a calf tear in practice on November 18. And then there was Dejounte Murray, the All-Star-caliber point guard whose absence left the team scrambling for ball-handling. Hunter Dickinson, the 7-foot center, was also out. That’s four key rotation players missing — including two starters — in a game that came down to the final possession.
It’s not just the injuries — it’s the timing. The Pelicans had just come off a rare offensive fireworks display on November 5, where six players scored in double figures. That game felt like a breakthrough. Now, it’s a ghost. Without Poole’s shot-creation and Murray’s playmaking, the offense stalled. The team relied too heavily on rookie guards and bench players who hadn’t faced this level of defensive pressure before.
Flagg and Marshall Carry the Load
Meanwhile, the Mavericks leaned on their young core. Flagg, just 20 and in his second NBA season, played like a veteran. He attacked the rim with ferocity, hit mid-range jumpers, and even drew fouls on drives. His 29 points were the most by a Dallas player in a Cup game this season. But it was Marshall, the 24-year-old guard with a quiet demeanor, who delivered the dagger. With Dallas up 116-115 and 24 seconds left, he caught a pass near the top of the key, pump-faked twice, then stepped back into a high-arcing three. The net barely twitched. The crowd erupted. No celebration. Just a nod to his coach — the kind of moment that defines rising stars.
Coach Jason Kidd didn’t say much after the game, but his postgame lineup adjustments told the story. He played Marshall over veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr. in crunch time — a sign that Dallas is betting on youth over experience. And it paid off.
The Cup’s High Stakes, Low Margin for Error
The NBA Cup was designed to add meaning to November games — and it has. With $5 million in prize money split among teams and group winners advancing to a December 12-17 championship in Las Vegas, every win matters. Dallas’s 2-1 record keeps them in contention for the top spot in Group D. New Orleans, at 1-2, now faces a must-win scenario.
What’s striking is how this tournament has changed the rhythm of the season. Unlike past mid-season tournaments, every Cup game counts toward the regular-season standings. That means teams can’t afford to rest stars — even with injuries piling up. The Pelicans’ front office knew this was coming. They just didn’t expect it to hit this hard, this fast.
What’s Next? The Road to Las Vegas
The Pelicans’ next test? A road game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, November 24, 2025. A loss there likely ends their group stage hopes. The Mavericks, meanwhile, host the Houston Rockets on Monday, November 25 — a team they’ve beaten twice this season. A win would put Dallas in control of their own destiny.
But here’s the twist: even if the Pelicans don’t make the Vegas semifinals, the Cup has already forced them to evaluate their depth. Players like Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trey Murphy III got more minutes than ever. Are they ready to be more than role players? The next two weeks will answer that.
And for Dallas? They’re no longer just a team with a flashy owner and a Hall of Fame coach. They’re becoming a team that knows how to win close games — even when their best player isn’t on the floor. That’s the sign of a contender.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Pelicans’ injuries impact their performance against the Mavericks?
The absence of Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray, Karlo Matkovic, and Hunter Dickinson crippled New Orleans’ offensive flow and interior defense. Poole’s scoring and Murray’s playmaking were irreplaceable, forcing rookies into critical minutes. The Pelicans shot just 41% from the field and turned the ball over 18 times — their worst performance in five games. Without those four, they lacked the depth to match Dallas’s physicality late.
Who are Flagg and Marshall, and why are they suddenly so important?
Flagg, a 20-year-old forward, is Dallas’s most explosive young scorer, averaging 18.6 points per game this season. Marshall, 24, was a second-round pick in 2024 and had been a bench player until recently. His game-winning three against New Orleans was his first clutch shot of the season — and it may have changed his role. Both are part of Jason Kidd’s plan to build around youth, and their emergence has eased the burden on Luka Dončić during the Cup.
What’s at stake for both teams in their next games?
The Pelicans must beat the San Antonio Spurs on November 24 to stay alive in Group D — a win would keep them within 1.5 games of the top spot. A loss eliminates them. The Mavericks, at 2-1, can clinch a top-two finish with a win over Houston on November 25. A victory would give them home-court advantage in the Vegas semifinals, should they advance. Both games are must-wins for playoff positioning, not just Cup survival.
Why is the NBA Cup different from past mid-season tournaments?
Unlike the old NBA In-Season Tournament, every Cup game counts toward the regular-season standings. Teams can’t afford to rest stars or experiment with lineups — injuries hurt more, and every loss impacts playoff seeding. Plus, with $5 million in prize money distributed based on group performance, there’s real financial incentive. This isn’t just a gimmick — it’s a structural shift in how the NBA values November basketball.
Did any players from the Pelicans’ roster stand out despite the loss?
Yes — rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifino scored 17 points and dished 6 assists in 32 minutes, showing poise beyond his years. Forward Trey Murphy III added 14 points and five rebounds, hitting three threes despite tight defense. While not enough to win, their performances suggest they’re ready for larger roles if the Pelicans’ injury situation persists into December.
When and where will the NBA Cup championship take place?
The six group winners and two best second-place teams will advance to the Las Vegas championship, scheduled for December 12–17, 2025. The semifinals and final will be held at the T-Mobile Arena, with the winner taking home $1.5 million — the largest single payout for a team in the tournament’s inaugural year.