The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up to hit the court again post-All-Star break, facing off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. However, the Mavericks are facing a tough challenge as they aim to break their nine-game losing streak, especially with standout rookie Cooper Flagg out of action.
Flagg, who has been a revelation this season, is sidelined with a foot sprain. This injury, sustained on February 10, kept him out of the Rising Stars challenge and the Mavericks' last game before the break against the Lakers.
In his last appearance against the Suns, Flagg put on a show with 27 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal over 36 minutes. He shot 8-of-20 from the field and was nearly automatic from the free-throw line, hitting 11-of-14. Performances like these have become the norm for the top overall pick.
Flagg has been a workhorse for the Mavericks, playing in 49 games and averaging over 34 minutes per contest. His stats are impressive: 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
With shooting splits of 48.2% from the field, 30.2% from beyond the arc, and 80.4% from the charity stripe, he's leading all rookies in scoring and ranks third in rookie double-doubles, trailing only Derik Queen and Maxime Raynaud. Flagg is a strong contender for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, though Charlotte Hornets' Kon Knueppel is also in the mix.
The Mavericks' injury woes don’t end with Flagg. Max Christie and Daniel Gafford are both questionable with ankle injuries.
Meanwhile, Ryan Nembhard, Miles Kelly, and Moussa Cisse are on G League assignments. Caleb Martin is out with an ankle injury, and both Dereck Lively II and Kyrie Irving are sidelined for the rest of the season.
As the Mavericks look to bounce back, they'll need to dig deep and rely on their depth to overcome these challenges.