Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, an 18-year-old prodigy, injured his left shoulder. So it was a shock to see this happen on the very first play of Monday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Flagg, who had been key in the Mavericks’ recent success, found himself sidelined for much of the crucial moments of the game due to a coach’s decision. The Mavericks most recently lost to the Thunder, 101-94.
The Thunder were in control throughout the game, taking as much as a 22-point advantage. The Mavericks had a deep hole to dig out of, but they came clawing back. With only 54.8 seconds remaining, they rallied and pulled to within one point. Flagg’s absence during this critical stretch was noticeable on and off the court for fans, teammates, and community members.
On the bench, Flagg was wearing a big wrap with a heating element on his hurt shoulder. After the game he would get treatment, ice his shoulder, doing whatever it took to hope that maybe he’d be ready to play. Flagg said he was hopeful about his chances of playing in the home opener against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
“We’re going to probably get some scans or whatever, make sure everything’s all clean, but I feel like it’s just a little sore,” – Cooper Flagg.
Jason Kidd, Flagg’s coach with Team USA, recognized Flagg’s drive and called attention to the grit he showed by continuing to play through discomfort earlier in the contest. Over Flagg’s strong protestations, he finally chose to bench Flagg during crunch time to give the team their best chance to earn a much-needed win.
“The way the game was going, we had a group out there that was doing really well and was on a run, so I see where Coach was at with that,” – Cooper Flagg.
Before his injury, Flagg proved his scoring prowess by dropping 22 points. This amazing all-around performance was a huge factor in the Mavericks’ narrow win over the Toronto Raptors. A number of highlights demonstrate the potential of the talented young midfielder in his first season.
The Mavericks are looking ahead to their next challenge against the Pacers. The Jets will monitor Flagg’s status heavily and will be looking for a quick return to playing shape. His resilience and potential have already made an impact on the team, and fans eagerly await his return to the court.
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