01/14/26 11:51:00
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01/14 23:50 CST Cooper Flagg sprains an ankle and is ruled out after halftime
as Mavs lose to Nuggets
Cooper Flagg sprains an ankle and is ruled out after halftime as Mavs lose to
Nuggets
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer
DALLAS (AP) --- Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg was ruled out for the
second half of a 118-109 loss to Denver on Wednesday night after the No. 1 pick
sprained his left ankle in the first half Wednesday night.
Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson, and turned
the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6:01 left in the second quarter. Flagg
limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the
final 2:35 before the break.
The 19-year-old didn't come of the locker room for the second half before the
announcement that he was out for the game. Flagg injured the same ankle two
nights earlier, leaving briefly to get it taped before returning and leading
Dallas with 27 points in a 113-105 victory over Brooklyn.
"He stepped on someone's foot," coach Jason Kidd said. "Last game, he twisted
his ankle, too. We decided to hold him (out) for the second half."
Kidd said he didn't know if Flagg, who wasn't available to reporters after the
game, or center Daniel Gafford would play the second game of a back-to-back
against Utah on Thursday night. Gafford was ruled out during the second half
against Denver with a right ankle sprain that has bothered him most of the
season.
Flagg was playing his 40th game, three more than his only season as a Duke
standout when he led the Blue Devils to the Final Four as The Associated Press
men's player of the year.
Flagg missed just one game in the first 41 of the Mavericks, due to an illness
in November. The Rookie of the Year contender is averaging 18.8 points and 6.3
rebounds.
Before Gafford exited, the Mavericks were already without their top two
frontcourt players in 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and young center Dereck
Lively II. Davis is expected to be sidelined about six weeks with ligament
damage in his left hand, and Lively is out for the season following foot
surgery.
"This is a hard time for us," Kidd said. "We have had a lot of injuries. ... We
have been hurt since day one of training camp. This is the norm. The character
has been displayed in tough times of being down. But we keep fighting."
___
AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
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