Cooper Flagg made NBA historical past on Saturday evening. The Dallas Mavericks rookie grew to become the youngest participant ever to attain 35 factors in a sport, main his crew to a 114-110 comeback win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He completed the feat at 18 years and 343 days outdated, 5 days youthful than LeBron James was when he first reached 35 in 2003.
Flagg shot 13-for-22 from the sphere, added eight rebounds, and managed giant stretches of his twentieth NBA sport. His efficiency additionally pushed the Mavericks out of a three-game shedding streak.
Kidd and Thompson Reward Flagg’s Poise
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd didn’t maintain again when requested concerning the rookie’s efficiency. “He’s solely 18 years outdated, however he looks like he’s been on this league earlier than,” Kidd mentioned. He highlighted Flagg’s capability to run the offense, assault the paint, and rise to late-game strain. “Simply his composure on each ends [impressed me]. He competes at a really excessive degree.”
Flagg had additionally impressed one evening earlier towards LeBron James and the Lakers, when he delivered 11 assists, essentially the most ever by an 18-year-old in an NBA sport. His teammate Klay Thompson echoed the reward. “Cooper’s upside is limitless,” Thompson mentioned. “He has each device to be nice. Generally I can’t imagine he ought to be a freshman in school.”
Aggression Fuels Flagg’s Breakthrough
Flagg stayed aggressive all through the sport, punctuating his evening with a strong dunk over Ivica Zubac. He credited Kidd for pushing him to remain in assault mode. “Being aggressive proper now’s clearly proper for me, and that’s what Coach has careworn to me,” Flagg mentioned. He added that he should belief his work and reside with the errors that include taking part in boldly.
Thompson delivered a clutch efficiency of his personal. He hit 4 three-pointers within the fourth quarter, together with the go-ahead shot with 1:51 remaining. He scored 23 factors, with 17 within the ultimate interval.
Clippers Proceed to Battle
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 30 factors and eight rebounds. James Harden added 29 factors, 11 assists, and eight boards. John Collins scored 21, and Zubac posted 19 factors and 11 rebounds. Regardless of robust particular person efforts, Los Angeles fell to 5-15 and misplaced its seventh straight house sport at Intuit Dome.
Dallas improved to 6-15 by forcing 18 turnovers and scoring 20 factors off them, with Flagg’s historic evening steering the win.
