Cooper Flagg Drops 49 in Career Night, But Mavericks Fall Short Against Hornets
DALLAS - Cooper Flagg put on a show Thursday night, delivering the kind of performance that turns heads across the league. The rookie phenom dropped a career-high 49 points on a blistering 20-of-29 from the field, including 3-of-5 from deep.
He also set a personal best with 25 points in the first half alone. But despite his offensive explosion, the Dallas Mavericks came up just short, falling to the Charlotte Hornets, 123-121.
This wasn’t just a hot night-it was a statement. Flagg was locked in from the opening tip, showcasing the full arsenal: mid-range pull-ups, tough finishes through contact, and smooth catch-and-shoot threes.
He played with the poise of a veteran and the energy of a rookie hungry to prove he belongs. And yet, when the final buzzer sounded, the only number that seemed to matter to Flagg was the one on the scoreboard.
“It's tough,” Flagg said postgame. “We fight the whole game.
Cooper Flagg on the balance of a great individual game in a difficult loss. He gave a team-focused answer, saying it was a “tough” loss. pic.twitter.com/rzkDNMZkX8
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) January 30, 2026
Play really hard, stick together through a lot of tough stuff. They went on a lot of runs.
We stuck with it, gave ourselves a chance to win down the stretch, so it's tough. Obviously you want to come away with a win, but a lot of positives to take away as well.”
That’s the thing about Flagg-he’s wired to win. The 49 points will dominate the headlines, but it’s his mindset that continues to impress.
He’s not chasing stats; he’s chasing wins. And that competitive fire was evident all night long, especially in the fourth quarter as he tried to drag the Mavs back into it.
On the other side, it was another rookie-Flagg’s former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel-who helped seal the deal for Charlotte. Knueppel poured in 34 points of his own, leading the Hornets in a game that felt like a preview of future All-Star battles. Both rookies looked like stars in the making, and with the Rising Stars game around the corner, fans are in for a treat.
After the game, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd didn’t hold back in his praise for Flagg.
“He’s not about numbers, he’s about wins and losses. That’s who he is,” Kidd said.
“He competes to win… For a young man who thinks that way, he’s gonna be a champion sooner than later. He continues to keep working.
Jason Kidd on what Cooper Flagg can learn from tonight’s difficult loss pic.twitter.com/CkzOMC9gEb
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) January 30, 2026
For him to be out (with injury) then to be able to come back with this type of game… He’s just competitive and he tried to will his team into a win tonight.”
That kind of mentality doesn’t show up in the box score, but it’s what separates the good from the great. Flagg’s performance wasn’t just a breakout-it was a glimpse into what’s coming. He’s already showing the ability to take over games, and he’s doing it while staying grounded in team success.
The loss stings, no doubt. But there’s no denying what Flagg is building in Dallas.
The Mavs are back in action Saturday night in Houston against the Rockets, and you can bet Flagg will be ready to go again. After a night like this, the league is officially on notice.