Cooper Flagg's rookie season has been a whirlwind, but Wednesday night was a true test of his mettle. The Dallas Mavericks' forward dropped 26 points in a high-scoring 142-135 showdown against the Denver Nuggets. Yet, the spotlight was firmly on Nikola Jokić, who delivered another jaw-dropping performance.
Jokić's stat line was nothing short of historic: 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 19 assists. This made him the first player in NBA history to notch at least 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 17 assists in consecutive games. It was also his 30th triple-double of the season, putting him alongside Russell Westbrook as the only players to achieve multiple 30-triple-double seasons.
Flagg, with the humility of a rookie and the respect of a seasoned pro, acknowledged the gap between them. “I think I can learn a lot from him - just how he reads the game,” Flagg reflected.
“But I don’t know if anyone can get to that level. It’s incredible how he impacts the game.
Sometimes it feels like he’s not even trying, and he ends up with 20-20-20. It’s crazy to be out there and see how he affects everything.”
Jokić has been a force this season, averaging 27.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.8 assists over 58 games. With eight All-Star selections, seven All-NBA honors, and a 2023 championship under his belt - where he was both Western Conference Finals and Finals MVP - his résumé speaks volumes.
P.J. Washington noted that while the Mavericks' strategy remains consistent, the results can vary when facing someone of Jokić’s caliber.
“At this point, everybody’s used to it. We know how good he is,” Washington stated.
“You just try not to foul, contest as best you can, and push the ball on misses to make him run. He’s one of the best.”
Flagg, meanwhile, is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year, averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists through 61 games.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd kept it real with his assessment of Jokić. “You can’t stop him.
You’re not going to stop him,” Kidd said. “You just try to give him different looks.”
Jokić himself downplayed the aesthetics of his game, focusing instead on results. “I don’t know if it’s beautiful,” he remarked.
“When we pass around and get open looks, it’s beautiful, but is it really important? I would rather just win games than play beautiful.”
On a positive note for Dallas, Flagg was not listed on the injury report for Friday’s game against Portland, a relief after he left Wednesday’s game with his right hand wrapped and iced. The Mavericks will look to bounce back against the Trail Blazers on Friday night.