Cooper Flagg Scores 18, Applauded By NBA Fans Despite Mavs' Loss to Wizards
The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Washington Wizards 117–107 at home on Friday, but rookie Cooper Flagg showed flashes of promise in his second NBA game.
While Flagg's scoring was limited, he exploded in the fourth quarter in an effort to keep the Mavericks in the game, finishing with 18 points, five rebounds and six assists, adding five turnovers, while making several impactful plays on both ends of the floor.
It marked a strong bounce-back from his debut against the San Antonio Spurs, where he posted 10 points on 30 percent shooting in the season opener where the Mavericks fell 125-92.
Anthony Davis added 27 points and 13 rebounds, while P.J. Washington chipped in 18 points and nine boards.
Highlighting his night, Flagg delivered a thunderous dunk in the fourth quarter that cut the deficit to four, giving fans a glimpse of his potential as the season progresses.
For Washington, Kyshawn George led the way with 34 points and 11 rebounds while rookie Tre Johnson added 17 points off the bench, helping the Wizards earn their first win of the season following a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in their opener.
Fans remain optimistic about Flagg's potential despite the Mavericks' 0–2 start, noting flashes of skill and impact in his first two games.
After jumping out to an early 23–9 lead, Dallas saw its momentum fade as Washington mounted a comeback. The teams traded buckets before the Mavericks fell behind by six at halftime, with Flagg limited to just five points — his second straight quiet first half to open the season.
What looked like a potential blowout — with the Wizards stretching their lead to 13 and dominating both ends through three quarters — quickly shifted in the fourth, as the Mavericks battled back to make it a game late.
Dallas couldn't hold off the late surge, but Flagg's explosive fourth quarter helped trim the deficit to as much as four before the Mavericks fell 117–107.
Falling to 0–2, the Mavericks will look to secure their first win of the season when they host Toronto on Sunday, while the 1–1 Wizards will return home to face Charlotte that same day.
