The Dallas Mavericks celebrated their first victory of the NBA season as rookie Cooper Flagg showcased an electrifying performance at the American Airlines Center. Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, led his team with 22 points, four rebounds, and four assists, contributing significantly to the Mavericks’ 25 fast-break points and 70 points in the paint.
During the game, Flagg stood out in a packed arena as he dazzled College Park’s fan base with a nasty dunk. He started the play himself by receiving a hail-mary look-ahead pass right as he crossed halfcourt. With one dribble and a couple of long strides, he took off for an impressive and-1 cock back hammer jam. His teammates were so overjoyed that they leaped off the bench to celebrate. It was a perfect encapsulation of the jubilation and togetherness that made up their squad.
The crowd’s reaction to Flagg’s dunk marked a stark contrast to the scattered boos heard during the Mavericks’ disappointing 0-2 start to the season. A sellout crowd of 3,558 went nuts as Flagg put on a show. His brilliance not only turned the momentum of the game but displayed his increasing mark on the team.
“When he’s getting the crowd going like that, our team feeds off it,” – Russell.
Flagg finished with seven points, including three assists during an important 18-0 run. As the season progressed, he continued to establish himself as a foundational player for the Mavericks. Whether on the pitch or on the ball, his ability to energize both his teammates and the fans alike was palpable throughout the contest.
“As soon as he took off, I knew it was going to be butter,” – Dereck Lively II.
The Mavericks were at their best when they got to the charity stripe, making 29-of-39 attempts. This added efficiency at the line played right into their overall, up-and-down offensive style and allowed them to wear down their opponents en route to a championship win.
In looking back on the victory, Flagg admitted he wants to see more progress.
“We want to build off tonight, use it as a baseline. This team needs to just keep building and getting better,” – Flagg.
In the process, he tipped his cap to the booming fan support that’s kept them afloat through an abysmal start to the season.
“The fans have showed up for the first three games and I thought tonight was really the first time we gave ’em something to be excited for and be on their feet for,” – Flagg.
Leave a Reply