×

Mavericks star Cooper Flagg exits vs. Pacers after hard foul

By Thomson Reuters Oct 23, 2026 | 10:32 PM

By Field Level Media

Oct 24 (Field Level Media) – The Dallas Mavericks announced that Cooper Flagg will ​not return to Friday’s ‌game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis due to left shoulder soreness.

The second-year star took a hard foul late ‌in ​the second quarter and ⁠did not return ⁠to the floor to start the second half.

With 59.7 seconds left in the first half, Indiana’s ​Aaron Nesmith challenged Flagg’s dunk attempt from behind, sending Flagg sprawling ⁠to the floor. ⁠After a review, Nesmith ​was assessed a flagrant-1 foul.

Naji Marshall ​rushed in and shoved Nesmith, resulting ‌in technical fouls for both players. Dallas carried a 77-43 lead into the locker room.

Flagg, the reigning ⁠NBA Rookie of the Year, notched 14 points, six assists and five rebounds ⁠in ‌17 minutes of first-half play ⁠before being ruled out.

The ​19-year-old ‌registered 32 points and ​five rebounds ⁠in the Mavericks’ season-opening loss to the Houston Rockets. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 70 games last season.

(–Field ​Level Media)