DALLAS — Cooper Flagg scored 43 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out six assists as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Indiana Pacers 125-122 on Monday night. The 19-year-old became only the second teenager in NBA history to record at least 40 points and 10 rebounds in the same game, joining Kevin Durant.
Flagg also added three steals and a block. It was the fifth 40-point performance of his career. The rest of the teenagers to play in the league have combined for 10.
“It’s unbelievable. He’s a 19-year-old doing this,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said.
Kyrie Irving was nearly as productive. He scored 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting in 38 minutes. It was the first time since recovering from a torn ACL, which sidelined him all of last season, that he had played in both games of a back-to-back set. Flagg and Irving combined for 26 fourth-quarter points as Dallas closed out the Pacers and moved to 7-4.
A snack-time mishap
Flagg’s night nearly started with a setback. Settling into his seat in the interview room, he realised he had forgotten his snack. He has been seen eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during recent games as he works to put weight on his frame.
“Oh, I forgot my peanut butter and jelly,” Flagg said. “I was supposed to bring the peanut butter and jelly. Dang it!”
On the floor, Flagg shot 16-of-25 and went 3-of-6 from three-point range. He credited his backcourt partner for much of the success.
“Tonight, me and Kai had it going,” Flagg said. “There’s hopefully going to be a lot of nights like that.”
Efficient scoring and a growing all-around game
Irving, 34, is an eight-time All-Star who has long been one of the league’s elite scorers. Flagg has now joined that company. He is averaging 25.9 points on 50% shooting from the floor this season, along with 6.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.0 steals.
Only one other player in the league is averaging as many points, rebounds, assists and steals: Luka Doncic, the former Mavericks star who is on a historic run with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Flagg’s midrange game has become a particularly effective weapon. He finished his 43-point night with a pair of pull-up 18-footers in the final minute. According to NBA.com tracking, he has made 29 of 49 attempts (59.2%) from between 10 and 19 feet this season.
“I think just being able to get to my spots at a higher level and being more comfortable with that has allowed me to take a little bit of load off my body,” Flagg said. “Just kind of stop it short, raising up over people. It’s taxing to get downhill all the way to the rim and try and finish over 7-footers all night, every night. I think just adding that in there, it definitely allows me to pace myself a little bit.”
Flagg is also emerging as a clutch scorer in his second season. He ranks fourth in the league in clutch scoring, with 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting.
Irving praised his young teammate’s all-round play.
“We keep calling him a teenager, but he plays way beyond his years,” Irving said. “Got to give him his flowers. The way he’s always in attack mode, the way he sees the game and he gets others involved — very selfless. It helps out our team a lot, including myself. Just seeing him being able to make plays for others, but also when he’s calling his own number, he’s getting in that paint and trying to get the most efficient shot possible.”
Mavericks forward Naji Marshall was equally effusive.
“I’m not even going to lie: I didn’t think he was going to be this good,” Marshall said. “I knew he was good. I didn’t think he was going to be this good. Every day, bro, he just breaks the standard for what I thought he was going to be.”