The Charlotte Hornets earned a 120-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. LaMelo Ball finished the game with 20 points, six assists and three rebounds while connecting on four three-point attempts. An impressive Ball preseason contest wouldn't be anything to write about typically -- as he's already one of the better players in the NBA -- but Saturday's game was different.
Cooper Flagg was the talking point. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick played well, yet Charlotte emerged victorious. The Mavs had most of their players available, with Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson among the starters who played alongside Flagg.