Cooper Flagg recorded a season-high 43 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 125-122 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday. With just over 26 seconds remaining, the 2026 Rookie of the Year hit a mid-range jumper over Andrew Nembhard to seal the win, extending the Mavericks’ winning streak to three games and improving their record to 7-4.
Flagg’s performance marked a historic milestone as he became the first teenager in NBA history to achieve five 40-point games. LeBron James and Anthony Edwards combined for three such games as teenagers, while no other player has more than one. Flagg also joined Kevin Durant as the only teenagers to record a 40-point, 10-rebound, five-assist game in a single contest. Additionally, Flagg now ranks third all-time in total points scored before turning 20, behind only Kobe Bryant and James.
Through the early portion of the season, Flagg is averaging 25.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.2 steals. He ranks 11th in the league in scoring, 16th in assists and fifth in steals, despite missing time in an earlier Pacers matchup due to a flagrant foul and shooting poorly in another contest against Sacramento. Mavericks coach Dusty May praised Flagg’s overall impact, noting that the 19-year-old affects games in multiple dimensions beyond scoring.
Flagg’s scoring improvement stems partly from an enhanced mid-range game developed during the offseason. He is shooting 56.3% on off-the-dribble 2-point attempts this season, up significantly from 47.2% as a rookie. He is taking 6.2 free throw attempts per game, ranking 12th in the league and up from 4.9 per game in his rookie season. While his 3-point shooting remains inconsistent at 29.2%, Flagg has expressed confidence in his overall development and intentions to continue attempting shots from beyond the arc.
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