Cooper Flagg put on a show for the ages Thursday night, dropping 49 points - the most ever by a teenager in an NBA game - but the Dallas Mavericks still came up just short in a 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft and just 19 years old, was electric from the jump. He hit shots from everywhere on the floor, including a clutch three-pointer with under 30 seconds left to tie the game at 121. It was the kind of performance that makes you pause and realize you’re watching the beginning of something special.
But the final seconds were a harsh reminder that even the brightest stars can have growing pains. Right after tying the game, Flagg committed a costly turnover, then hustled back and fouled Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel - another standout rookie and, interestingly, Flagg’s former college roommate and teammate. Knueppel calmly knocked down both free throws to put the Hornets up for good.
Flagg had one more chance to force overtime, but his 20-foot jumper at the buzzer missed the mark. The Mavericks dropped their third straight, while Charlotte picked up its fifth win in a row - an unexpected surge from a team that’s still sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference.
Still, Flagg’s 49-point night wasn’t just a personal best - it broke a record that had stood since 1980, when Cliff Robinson scored 45 as a 19-year-old. That’s nearly half a century of NBA history rewritten in one night.
Not to be overshadowed, Knueppel also had a career night with 34 points of his own. The two rookies went toe-to-toe in a game that felt like a preview of future All-Star battles. If this is what their first season looks like, buckle up.
Elsewhere around the league, the Minnesota Timberwolves made a loud statement with a wire-to-wire 123-111 win over the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Anthony Edwards led the way and didn’t hold back afterward, saying the win was personal after the Thunder eliminated Minnesota in last year’s Western Conference Finals.
“They put us out last year, and they got the reigning MVP,” Edwards said, referring to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who still managed to pour in 30 points. “A win like this shows… if we bring our defensive intensity every night, we’re going to be alright.”
In Philadelphia, the Sixers leaned on their dynamic duo to sneak past the Sacramento Kings, 113-111. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 77 points, with Maxey once again showing he’s more than just a sidekick.
The 25-year-old guard dropped 40-plus for the fifth time this season, adding eight assists and four rebounds. But it was his final bucket - a game-winning layup with five seconds to go, courtesy of a dish from Embiid - that sealed the win.
In Phoenix, Dillon Brooks exploded for a career-high 40 points as the Suns rolled past the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons, 114-96. Brooks was in rhythm all night, giving Suns fans a glimpse of the scoring punch he can provide when he’s locked in.
And in Washington, the Wizards took advantage of a shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks squad, earning a 109-99 win. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an injury, and with the trade deadline looming and rumors swirling, the Bucks looked out of sync.
From record-breaking rookies to revenge-fueled wins and trade-deadline drama, the NBA delivered another night full of storylines - and we’re only getting started.