The Mavs will miss Cooper Flagg against Knicks as rookie sensation battles illness
Cooper Flagg will sit out his first game of the season when the Dallas Mavericks face the New York Knicks tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The news broke Wednesday when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the No. 1 pick would miss the nationally televised matchup.
Flagg has been fighting an illness for the past two days. He’s also dealing with a right thumb sprain that he’s been playing through recently.
There’s good news for Mavs fans, though. With Dallas facing the Pelicans on Friday, Flagg could be back on the court soon if he starts feeling better.
Rookie Making Immediate Impact
Flagg has been nothing short of spectacular to start his NBA career.
Through 15 games, he’s averaging 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Those numbers aren’t just good for a rookie – they’ve made him the team’s second-leading scorer behind Anthony Davis, who’s only played five games before his own injury sidelined him.
What makes Flagg special isn’t just the scoring. It’s how he affects the game in so many different ways.
He can score from pretty much anywhere on the court. He rebounds like a veteran. His passing shows he’s got basketball instincts way beyond his years.
Maybe most impressive is how he doesn’t need the ball in his hands constantly to make an impact. That’s been huge for Dallas when they’ve been short-handed.
How Will Dallas Adjust Tonight?
Without Flagg in the lineup, the Mavs will need their wing players and secondary scorers to step up big time.
They’ll also miss his energy – something that’s been crucial during tight fourth quarters this season.
The good news is this looks like just a brief setback. The team expects him to recover quickly, possibly in time for Friday’s game in New Orleans.
For now, it’s just a small bump in what’s been an incredible rookie season. If Flagg can get back on the court by the weekend, he’ll pick up right where he left off in what’s shaping up to be one of the most impressive first-year campaigns we’ve seen in a while.
