The Dallas Mavericks suffered a potentially significant scare Friday night when Cooper Flagg was forced to leave their NBA game against the Indiana Pacers after taking a hard foul from Aaron Nesmith.
PACERS-MAVS GET CHIPPY AFTER A FLAGRANT FOUL ON COOPER FLAGG 😳 Flagg went to the locker room after the hard foul https://t.co/pQjg9P61KK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 24, 2026
Flagg went down awkwardly and immediately grabbed his left shoulder, setting off a heated confrontation between the two teams. The Mavericks later ruled their star forward out for the remainder of the game with left shoulder soreness.
MORE:Ranking top 7 NBA rookies entering 2026-27 season
Flagg leaves after hard foul from Nesmith
Flagg was racing toward the basket in transition late in the second quarter when Nesmith challenged him from behind. The contact sent Flagg crashing to the floor, where he remained for a moment before getting up and heading toward the locker room. Officials reviewed the play and assessed Nesmith a Flagrant 1.
The foul immediately sparked a confrontation between the Pacers and Mavericks. Dallas forward Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith, leading to a brief scuffle between the teams. Nesmith and Marshall were each assessed technical fouls following the altercation.
Flagg actually stayed on the court long enough to shoot the two free throws awarded because of the flagrant foul. He then went to the locker room and did not return for the second half.
MORE:4 NBA teams that will surprise in 2026-27 season
Mavericks will now wait for more information
The biggest concern for Dallas is the severity of Flagg’s shoulder issue. The Mavericks officially listed him with left shoulder soreness rather than announcing a specific structural injury, meaning there was no immediate indication Friday night of how much time he could potentially miss.
Flagg was having another impressive performance before the injury, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals in 17 minutes. Dallas had built a massive lead before his departure, entering halftime ahead 77-43.
The Mavericks ultimately held on for a 121-105 victory, but the result became secondary to the condition of their franchise player.
Flagg’s status will now be closely monitored, particularly given his importance to Dallas entering his second NBA season. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick won Rookie of the Year last season after averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
For now, the official diagnosis is only left shoulder soreness. The Mavericks will need additional evaluation to determine whether Friday night’s scary exit becomes something more serious.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —