Rookie Cooper Flagg pours in 51, but Mavericks fall to Magic
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Dallas forward Cooper Flagg erupted for a career-high 51 points on Friday night, yet the Mavericks still dropped a 138-127 decision to the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center.
The 19-year-old rookie reached the half-century mark on an off-dribble, turnaround jumper plus the foul with 2:05 remaining, becoming the youngest player in league history to score 50 in a game at 19 years, 103 days. He added the free throw to finish with 51 on 19-of-30 shooting, including 6-for-11 from beyond the arc.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, delivered 24 of his points in the fourth quarter. He is only the ninth rookie ever to reach 50 and the first teenager to do so, surpassing Brandon Jennings’ previous age record (20 years, 52 days). The rookie list also features Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Allen Iverson, George Mikan and Earl Monroe.
Late boos, brief benching, and a scoring flurry
Assistant coach Frank Vogel, substituting after head coach Jason Kidd was ejected, briefly removed Flagg with 3:35 left and Dallas trailing by 17, prompting boos from the crowd. Vogel called timeout on the next possession, reinserted the rookie, and Flagg quickly drained his sixth three before the milestone bucket.
Kidd’s ejection stemmed from a sequence early in the fourth quarter. After Flagg was shoved in the back by Orlando guard Desmond Bane with no foul called, the rookie was assessed a technical for profanity toward referee Sean Corbin. Kidd stormed onto the court, received a technical, and was tossed for continuing to yell at the officials. Forward Naji Marshall picked up a second technical seconds later and was also ejected.
“We’re a family. We have to protect one another,” Kidd said afterward, labeling the officiating “below average.”
Historic company and awards race
Flagg is now tied with Michael Jordan as the only players ever to post multiple 45-point games as rookies. He is averaging 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the 24-53 Mavericks and is close to joining Jordan, Larry Bird and Luka Dončić as the only rookies since the 1976-77 merger to average at least 20-6-4.
Despite Friday’s outburst, a recent ESPN straw poll showed Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel—Flagg’s former Duke roommate—leading the Rookie of the Year race with 80 of 100 first-place votes. Knueppel is averaging 18.8 points and has already broken the rookie three-point record with 261 makes.
“I would hope it helps, but I’m just trying to get better every night,” Flagg said when asked if his 51-point performance might sway voters.
The Mavericks return to action Sunday against the Houston Rockets, while Orlando, now 46-31, continues its playoff push in Miami the same night.
Source: ESPN
