Flagg scores 27, No. 3 Duke extends home win streak to 14 with a 78-57 win over California

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Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) dunks ahead of California’s Rytis Petraitis (31) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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Duke’s Tyrese Proctor (5) reacts after hitting a 3-pointer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against California in Durham, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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Duke’s Mason Gillis (18) and California’s Rytis Petraitis (31) battle for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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California’s Jovan Blackshear Jr. (10) handles the ball as Duke’s Isaiah Evans (3) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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California’s Andrej Stojakovic (2) handles the ball as Duke’s Kon Knueppel, left, defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

By BOB SUTTON

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Cooper Flagg scored 27 points and No. 3 Duke extended its home winning streak to 14 games with a 78-57 victory over California on Wednesday night.

Tyrese Proctor scored 18 points and Khaman Maluach added 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue Devils (21-3, 13-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who rebounded from Saturday’s loss to Clemson that snapped a 16-game winning streak.

Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 21 points, Rytis Petraitis added 11 points and Andrej Stojakovic 10 points for the Golden Bears (12-13, 5-9).

Flagg shot 8 for 14 from the field and was perfect on nine free throws for Duke, which led 19-9 less than 9½ minutes in the game. Flagg scored 13 points in the first half, helping the Blue Devils to a 38-23 lead at the break.

Takeaways

California: The Golden Bears have lost four of their last five games. They were in danger of a season-low point total until scoring 15 points in a five-plus minute stretch late in the game.

Duke: The ACC-leading Blue Devils were having fun again while extending their home unbeaten streak. Flagg converted a breakaway reverse dunk midway through the second half, cracking a rare on-court smile afterward.

Not PARSE.LY: Duke Blue Devils

Clemson guard Chase Hunter (1) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

No. 23 Clemson back in the rankings and rolling in the ACC

Auburn guard Miles Kelly, left, and Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Auburn edges Alabama atop AP Top 25 despite loss, Duke and Florida tied at No. 3; UConn drops out

Fournier and Jackson help No. 10 Duke overwhelm Miami 90-49

Key moment

Back-to-back possessions with 3-pointers from 7-foot-2 center Maluach and Flagg pushed Duke to a 28-15 lead. The margin never dipped to single digits the rest of the way. It was just Maluach’s second 3-point basket and eighth attempt from beyond the arc this season.

Key stat

California shot 35.1% from the field, below the ACC-low of 38.5% that Duke had allowed opponents entering the game.

Up next

Both teams play Saturday. Duke is home against Stanford, and California is at Georgia Tech.

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