TITLE: Flagg breaks two age records, Washington sits with ankle sprain; Morant, Vassell updates across Southwest
SLUG: flagg-records-washington-ankle-morant-check-vassell-streak
CONTENT:
Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg rewrote the record book on consecutive nights this week, becoming the NBA’s youngest player to post 10 assists and, one game later, the youngest to score 35 points. The 18-year-old reached the scoring mark five days earlier than LeBron James did in 2003 and powered the Mavericks to a much-needed victory on Friday.
“He ran the offense for us,” head coach Jason Kidd said after the win. “He got to the rim, earned trips to the line and made the free throws late.”
Veteran guard Klay Thompson, who turned in one of his best outings of the season in the same game, praised Flagg’s potential. “Cooper’s upside is limitless,” he said. “Sometimes I can’t believe he should be a freshman in college.” Thompson compared his role alongside Flagg to Byron Scott’s place next to a young Kobe Bryant with the Lakers.
Mavericks injury report
Forward P.J. Washington was a late scratch Friday after spraining his right ankle when he slipped on a loose ball during warm-ups, according to the Dallas Morning News. He was ruled out near the end of the first quarter, and his availability for the Mavericks’ upcoming three-game road trip remains uncertain.
Grizzlies timetable for Morant
The Grizzlies expect to re-evaluate Ja Morant next week once the club returns to Memphis on Tuesday, Grind City Media reported. The All-Star guard has been limited to light on-court work while recovering from a calf strain suffered earlier this month, and the check-in aligns with the original timeline provided by the team.
Vassell’s scoring surge in San Antonio
Devin Vassell has produced the highest two-game scoring total of his career, capping the stretch with 35 points in Friday’s win over Denver, the San Antonio Express-News noted. Head coach Mitch Johnson highlighted Vassell’s effort on both ends of the floor. “He’s becoming a winning player,” Johnson said. “He’s a difference maker when he plays that way.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
