Mavericks HC Dusty May gives initial Cooper Flagg injury diagnosis after hard fall on shoulder vs. Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Mavericks came away from Indiana with a blowout win, but they may also be bracing for some uncertainty surrounding Cooper Flagg. Flagg exited Friday night’s 121-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a left shoulder injury and did not return.
After the game, head coach Dusty May gave an initial update, saying Flagg was dealing with left shoulder soreness and “will be evaluated” in the next couple of days.
The injury came with under a minute left in the first half. Flagg appeared to be headed for a breakaway dunk when Pacers swingman Aaron Nesmith fouled him hard from behind. The contact knocked Flagg off balance, and he landed awkwardly on his shoulder under the basket.
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Flagg was checked by a trainer after the play. He kept rubbing his shoulder as he walked to the locker room and did not come out for the second half.
The play quickly boiled over. Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith after the foul, and players from both teams got involved in a brief shoving match along the baseline before coaches and officials separated them. Nesmith was assessed a Flagrant 1, and a double technical was handed to Nesmith and Marshall.
Before leaving, Flagg was having a terrific night. The second-year forward had 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in just 17 minutes, helping Dallas build a commanding 77-43 halftime lead. The Mavericks cruised from there without him.
Dallas will be hoping for good news on the evaluation, especially with a tough test right around the corner. The Mavericks host Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night at American Airlines Center, then visit the Miami Heat on Monday.
With the evaluation coming over the next couple of days, there was no immediate word on Flagg’s status for the matchup with the Spurs.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke, is the centerpiece of Dallas’ future and a key part of May’s plans in his first season leading the team. Any extended absence would be a significant blow for a Mavericks squad that looked sharp in Indiana.
For now, the Mavericks will wait on the results and hope the soreness is nothing more than that.
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