Dallas — Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg is confronting his first noticeable dip in form after earning Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors for December for a second consecutive time. Head coach Jason Kidd said the 19-year-old is “playing a lot of minutes” and described the experience of hitting the so-called rookie wall as “a positive” for his development.
Flagg has already surpassed the total minutes he logged last season at Duke and currently sits near the top of the NBA in floor time. Although his shooting has cooled over the past three games, he continues to contribute in rebounds, assists and steals.
Pelicans
New Orleans — Zion Williamson poured in a season-high 35 points on Friday, marking his third straight outing with at least 30. Despite the surge, the Pelicans dropped their sixth game in a row. Interim coach James Borrego said Williamson looks “as strong as I’ve seen him in a while,” both mentally and physically, according to NOLA.com.
New Orleans remains undermanned, and the team’s record under Borrego highlights the impact of forward Herb Jones. The club has been competitive when Jones is available and has struggled without him, a reality Borrego acknowledged while insisting it cannot serve as an excuse.
Rockets
Houston — The Rockets have signed guard Tristen Newton to a two-way contract and waived forward Tyler Smith. Newton has been posting strong numbers with Houston’s G League affiliate and will secure a guaranteed two-way deal if he remains on the roster through mid-week. The organization hopes his G League production will translate to the NBA level.
Source: Hoops Wire
