Cooper Flagg Makes NBA History, But Mavericks Let One Slip in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY - Cooper Flagg made history look easy. The win? Not so much.
On a night that showcased just how special the 18-year-old rookie already is, Flagg poured in a career-high 42 points - the most ever by an 18-year-old in NBA history and tied for the most by a Mavericks rookie, matching Mark Aguirre’s franchise mark. But despite Flagg’s offensive explosion, the Dallas Mavericks couldn’t close the door late and fell 140-133 in overtime to the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center.
For Dallas, it was a gut-punch of a loss - just their second defeat in the last seven games - dropping them to 10-17 on the season. Utah, meanwhile, improved to 10-15, riding a late fourth-quarter surge and a dominant overtime to steal one at home.
Flagg was electric from start to finish. He shot 13-of-27 from the field, got to the line 20 times and knocked down 15 of them, and consistently put pressure on Utah’s defense with a mix of physical drives, midrange touch, and unshakable poise. He didn’t just score - he carried Dallas through a high-octane shootout that saw both teams light up the scoreboard.
But for Flagg, the individual accolades didn’t carry much weight in the aftermath.
“It’s tough,” he said postgame. “I want to look at it in wins and losses.
Obviously we didn’t win. It’s tough for me to want to be happy, but obviously it’s a success and we’re going to try to keep getting better from here.”
That mindset tells you everything you need to know about the rookie’s mentality. Even on a night where he etched his name into the NBA record books, Flagg’s focus was on the result, not the stat sheet.
And the result was a frustrating one.
Dallas led by eight with under four minutes to play in regulation, seemingly in control. But Utah responded with a 13-5 run to close the quarter, capped by a wild final sequence that forced overtime.
Down 129-127 with 4.5 seconds left, Flagg stepped to the line. He hit the first free throw, then intentionally missed the second. Max Christie crashed the glass, grabbed the offensive board, drew a foul, and calmly sank both free throws to tie the game and send it to OT.
It was a clutch sequence - but the Mavericks couldn’t ride the wave.
In overtime, Utah wasted no time taking over. Keyonte George scored the first five points of the extra period, and Lauri Markkanen went to work on the offensive glass, turning two second-chance opportunities into buckets that gave the Jazz a 138-131 edge with just over a minute left. Utah outscored Dallas 11-4 in the extra session, closing the door with authority.
George finished with 37 points and six assists in a breakout performance of his own. Markkanen added a monster double-double - 33 points and 16 rebounds - while Kyle Filipowski chipped in 25 points and nine boards. Taylor Hendricks and Cody Williams each added 11, and Isaiah Collier rounded out the balanced effort with 10.
Dallas didn’t leave Flagg on an island, though. P.J.
Washington delivered one of his best games of the season with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Naji Marshall gave the Mavs 15 points, Ryan Nembhard added 14 points and 11 assists, and Klay Thompson contributed 12.
The game itself was a track meet from the opening tip. Dallas shot a blistering 65.9% in the first half, while Utah wasn’t far behind at 54.3%. Both teams topped 70 points before halftime - a clear sign that defense was optional, and shot-making was mandatory.
Flagg and George went back and forth in the first quarter, trading buckets like seasoned veterans. Flagg dropped 14 in the opening frame, helping Dallas to a 43-37 lead after one. Utah briefly grabbed momentum in the second behind a four-point play from George, but Dallas responded with steady offense from Moussa Cisse and a parade of free throws from Flagg to take a 75-71 lead into the break.
After the game, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd praised Marshall’s ability to keep things simple within the offense.
“When you talk about being boring - simple,” Kidd said. “And I think he’s bought into that.
You don’t have to hit a homerun every time. Understanding the great ones are boring because they’ve worked on a skill set over and over.”
The night also marked the return of center Daniel Gafford, who had missed the previous three games due to right ankle injury management. Gafford played 13 minutes under a restriction, finishing with two points and two rebounds. He acknowledged he’s still working through discomfort but is committed to staying on the floor.
“I’m trying to fight through a lot of stuff,” Gafford said. “I’m staying on top of it, trying to fight through pain, fight through discomfort, really just fight through everything right now.”
Dallas was without Anthony Davis (left calf contusion) and Brandon Williams (right Achilles soreness), both sidelined as precautionary measures. Their availability for Thursday’s home game against Detroit remains up in the air.
As for Flagg, the night was another reminder of just how fast he’s accelerating - not just as a scorer, but as a leader. He’s not chasing numbers. He’s chasing wins.
“It’s cool,” Flagg said of his record-setting night. “But it would’ve been great to get a win. That’s what I’m more focused on.”
And that’s what makes his rise so compelling. The numbers are historic.
But the hunger? That’s what sets him apart.