TITLE: Flagg Sets Back-to-Back Age Records; Grizzlies Plan Morant Check-Up; Vassell Fuels Spurs Win
SLUG: flagg-morant-vassell-roundup
CONTENT:
The NBA’s youth movement headlined Friday night, with Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg shattering two age milestones in as many games, Memphis guard Ja Morant inching closer to a return, and San Antonio swingman Devin Vassell delivering the best scoring stretch of his career.
Flagg makes history again
Flagg, 18, became the league’s youngest player to hand out 10 assists on Wednesday and followed one night later by pouring in 35 points, topping LeBron James’ previous record by five days. Both achievements came in a Mavericks victory, a welcome boost for a club that had been searching for momentum.
“He’s only 18 years old, but he seems like he’s been in this league before,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “He ran the offense for us… got to the rim, got to the free-throw line and made free throws late.”
Veteran guard Klay Thompson added, “Cooper’s upside is limitless. Sometimes I can’t believe he should be a freshman in college,” before likening his mentorship role to that of Byron Scott during the Showtime-era Lakers.
Morant evaluation set for next week
The Grizzlies expect Morant to be re-examined when the team returns to Memphis on Tuesday after a four-game road trip, according to Grind City Media. The former All-Star has been performing light on-court work as he rehabs a calf strain suffered earlier this month. The upcoming check-up aligns with the initial timetable provided by the club.
Vassell stays hot for Spurs
Vassell capped a two-game, career-best scoring run with 35 points in Friday’s win over the Nuggets, giving the Spurs back-to-back victories. “Keldon told me in the last two minutes if the ball comes to me, don’t think—just be aggressive and shoot,” Vassell said.
Interim head coach Mitch Johnson praised the fourth-year guard’s two-way play. “He’s becoming a winning player,” Johnson noted. “We’ve got our arm around him and our foot up his backside to continue to do it. He’s a difference-maker when he does that.”
The Mavericks next face the __________ (opponent), while Memphis and San Antonio await their respective upcoming matchups as Morant and Vassell continue to shape their teams’ trajectories.
Source: Hoops Wire
