Mavs rookie Flagg sets new age record with 35 in win over Clippers
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INGLEWOOD, Calif., Nov. 30, 2025 — Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to record a 35-point game, guiding a short-handed roster past the Los Angeles Clippers 114-110 at the Intuit Dome on Saturday night.
The 18-year-old forward finished with 35 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes, shooting 13-for-22 from the field and attacking the paint for eight baskets inside three feet. Flagg’s age—18 years, 343 days—eclipsed the previous mark held by LeBron James, who was 18 years, 348 days old when he first reached 35 points in December 2003.
“He controlled everything,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “Ran the offense, got downhill, drew fouls and stayed composed on both ends.”
Back-to-back breakthrough
Flagg’s milestone came less than 24 hours after he handed out 11 assists against the Lakers, the most ever by an 18-year-old. Unlike Friday’s loss, Saturday’s effort produced a win for a club missing several starters, including Kyrie Irving (knee surgery), Anthony Davis (calf management), Daniel Gafford (ankle management), Dereck Lively II (foot) and, minutes before tipoff, P.J. Washington, who sprained his right ankle after landing on a ball during warm-ups.
The rookie opened with 12 points in the first quarter, had 21 by halftime and scored eight in the final 2:47, bouncing back from two late turnovers. A thunderous two-hand dunk over center Ivica Zubac highlighted the night.
“Coach keeps telling me to stay aggressive,” Flagg said. “My teammates trust me, and that lets me play free.”
Thompson’s fourth-quarter surge
Veteran guard Klay Thompson, 35, ensured Flagg had the chance to close. Battling right knee soreness that briefly placed him on the injury report, Thompson poured in 17 of his 23 points in the fourth period, hitting 6-of-8 shots and 4-of-6 from deep. His 28-foot three-pointer with 1:52 remaining gave Dallas the lead for good.
“After the way I’ve started these first 20 games, it was a relief,” said Thompson, who joined Dallas in the offseason and has seen the team stumble to a 6-15 record. “Nights like this keep me pushing.”
The Mavericks landed Flagg with just a 1.8 percent chance of winning the draft lottery, and teammates already see vast potential. “Cooper’s upside is limitless,” Thompson added. “We’re getting a front-row seat to something special.”
The victory snapped a two-game skid for Dallas, which continues its West Coast trip Monday in Phoenix.
Source: ESPN
