INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Cooper Flagg packed lots of historical past into the Dallas Mavericks’ back-to-back video games towards the NBA’s two Los Angeles squads.
On Friday evening, Flagg dished out 11 assists, essentially the most ever by an 18-year-old, in a loss to the Lakers.
Twenty-four hours later, Flagg grew to become the youngest participant ever to attain 35 factors in a recreation, a feat that was far more satisfying as a result of it occurred as he led an injury-depleted Dallas crew to a 114-110 win over the Clippers on the Intuit Dome.
“He is solely 18 years previous, however he looks like he is been on this league earlier than,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd stated. “He did all of it tonight. He had the ball. You’ll be able to name it level guard or no matter, however he ran the offense for us. He drove the ball. The ball touched the paint. He bought to the rim, bought to the free throw line, stepped up and made free throws for us late. Simply his composure on each ends [was impressive]. He competes at a really excessive degree. You noticed that tonight, however you noticed that final evening, too.”
LeBron James is the one different 18-year-old to attain 35 factors in an NBA recreation, having achieved so twice as a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers in December 2023. James’ first 35-point recreation occurred when he was 18 years, 348 days previous, 5 days older than Flagg on Saturday evening.
The spotlight of Flagg’s career-high scoring outing was a spectacular drive and two-hand dunk over Clippers middle Ivica Zubac, an All-Defensive choice final season. Flagg attacked the basket relentlessly all through the sport, going 13-of-22 from the ground with eight buckets inside three toes of the basket.
“Being aggressive proper now’s clearly proper for me, and that is what Coach has burdened to me,” stated Flagg, who additionally had eight rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes. “I’ve bought to be aggressive, and we’ll dwell with a number of the errors, however you simply need to be aggressive and belief all of the work. My teammates are extraordinarily assured in me, and I really feel that. And after they’re assured in me, it permits me to only be unencumber there.”
Flagg, who had struggled within the second evening of his earlier back-to-backs, began the sport sizzling, scoring 12 factors within the first quarter and 21 within the first half. He additionally completed sturdy, retaining his poise after a few pricey turnovers within the fourth quarter to attain eight factors within the closing two minutes, 47 seconds.
“Cooper’s upside is limitless,” Mavs taking pictures guard Klay Thompson stated. “He has each instrument to be nice. Typically I am unable to imagine he ought to be a freshman in school.”
It was Flagg’s oldest teammate, the 35-year-old Thompson, who made certain the rookie No. 1 total choose had a chance to shut out the Clippers. Thompson scored 17 of his 23 factors within the fourth quarter, the kind of scorching streak he was well-known for whereas starring on 4 championship groups with the Golden State Warriors.
Thompson, who was briefly listed as out resulting from proper knee soreness on the official harm report Saturday earlier than altering his thoughts after a swim within the ocean, was 6-of-8 from the ground and 4-of-6 from 3-point vary within the fourth quarter. His 28-footer with 1:52 remaining gave the Mavs the lead for good.
“It felt like a reduction,” Thompson stated. “I have never shot the ball nicely these first 20 video games, not less than to not my normal. So when you might have an evening like that after the powerful begin we have had, it simply offers you reduction to maintain going. It actually evokes me to be on the market as a lot as I can.”
It has been a tough begin for Thompson and the 6-15 Mavs, who bought extra unhealthy information a few minutes earlier than tipoff when beginning ahead P.J. Washington landed on a basketball and sprained his proper ankle. Washington joined Kyrie Irving (knee surgical procedure), Anthony Davis (calf harm administration), Daniel Gafford (ankle harm administration) and Dereck Full of life II (foot) as key Mavs who have been unavailable towards the Clippers.
As a lot misfortune because the Mavs have had, they’d an unbelievable stroke of luck after they landed Flagg by profitable the draft lottery regardless of solely a 1.8% probability.
“It is fairly cool to be part of it” Thompson stated, referring to the beginning of Flagg’s profession. “All of us could be witnesses to what he will do for a very long time.”