The Dallas Mavericks got a mixed update on Cooper Flagg on Saturday, and the biggest takeaway is that the injury does not appear to be a long-term issue.
Flagg, the former Duke standout and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, left Friday night’s game against the Indiana Pacers after taking a hard hit on a breakaway foul from Aaron Nesmith. After the game, head coach Dusty May said Flagg had soreness in his shoulder and would be evaluated in the coming days.
That evaluation came Saturday, when an MRI on Flagg’s left shoulder showed a mild sprain. Dallas ruled him out for Saturday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.
For the Mavericks, that’s the kind of update that offers relief without exactly sending anyone jumping for joy. Flagg is expected to rest the shoulder and could miss a few more games, but the injury doesn’t seem serious enough to suggest an extended absence.
It’s a frustrating setback for a player trying to build on a huge rookie year. Flagg’s first NBA season ended with him averaging 21.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, and he arrived in the league looking like a legitimate scoring threat with the size and athleticism to create problems all over the floor. He also missed 12 games last season because of various injuries.
The early signs this year had been just as electric. Flagg played 17 minutes against Indiana and finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists, putting him on pace for a triple-double before the injury stopped his night. That came only two days after he poured in 32 points in the season opener, becoming the highest-scoring teenager in a season opener in league history.
Dallas will be hoping the shoulder heals quickly. With a player of Flagg’s caliber, getting him back on the court sooner rather than later matters plenty as the Mavericks try to put themselves in a strong position early in the season.
In Other News...
Duke's Road Win Put A New Spotlight On Its Receiver Battle
Dukes 19-16 win at Virginia did more than stop a two-game slide. It also sharpened the focus on a receiver room that has been searching for answers, and the latest road trip offered a little more evidence that the conversation is shifting. Freshman Brody Keefe turned in one of the more notable performances, finishing with three catches and a late touchdown as the Blue Devils found just enough offense to pull out a tight game.
Javen Nicholas, meanwhile, remains part of the discussion because his production still has not matched the expectations attached to him. With other contributors like Owen Wafle also making their presence felt and Patrick Smith-Young standing out on defense with eight tackles and an interception, Duke suddenly has a clearer picture of who is helping drive winning plays. The next step is figuring out how that receiver battle settles as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
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Duke had enough game action to start forming an identity, with the score and individual production giving a clearer sense of where the roster stands heading into November. The final result and the detailed stat line both pointed to the same thing: there is still plenty to learn about how this group will fit together, and the exhibition only sharpened the curiosity about what comes next once the real schedule begins. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Quarterback Concern Still Looms After Gritty Win At Virginia
Duke left Charlottesville with a hard-earned 19-16 win, but the bigger question coming out of the game was the quarterback situation. Walker Eget and Dan Mahan both saw action after an injury forced the Blue Devils to adjust on the fly, and Eget finished 14-of-25 for 211 yards with an interception in a game that asked plenty of Dukes offense.
The defense did enough to carry the day, piling up five sacks and shutting Virginia out in the second half after the Cavaliers managed only three points over those final two quarters. Even with the victory in hand, Duke has a clear storyline to sort through before its next outing, because the way the quarterback rotation unfolded left plenty unresolved about who will be under center moving forward. [Read more 🡒]