Cooper Flagg makes latest 'statement' for NBA Rookie of the Year with 45 points in Mavs' win over Lakers

Cooper Flagg entered Sunday’s crippled against the Los Angeles Lakers successful a choky contention for the NBA Rookie of the Year grant with his erstwhile Duke Blue Devils teammate Kon Knueppel.

Flagg, who was coming disconnected a 51-point performance, apt needed different ascendant crippled to shorten his likelihood of becoming the league’s apical rookie. He delivered.

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Dallas Mavericks guardant Cooper Flagg and Los Angeles Lakers guardant LeBron James hug astatine the extremity of their NBA crippled successful Dallas connected April 5, 2026. (LM Otero/AP)

The budding Mavericks prima scored 45 points successful Dallas’ 134-128 triumph implicit the injury-depleted Lakers. The triumph ended the Mavericks’ longest location losing streak successful 32 years. He added 9 assists and 8 rebounds to his stat enactment arsenic well.

"I deliberation it's decidedly immoderate benignant of statement," helium told reporters, via ESPN. "But it conscionable goes backmost to what I said: I'm assured successful myself, and I cognize what I'm susceptible of. I'll conscionable fto the remainder of the worldly fig itself out."

Flagg is the archetypal rookie to person back-to-back games with astatine slightest 40 points since Philadelphia 76ers fable Allen Iverson did it during the 1996-97 season. The accomplishment came aft helium became the archetypal teen to people astatine slightest 50 points successful a crippled erstwhile helium had 51 points against the Orlando Magic connected Friday night.

Dallas Mavericks guardant Cooper Flagg dribbles during the 2nd fractional of an NBA crippled against the Los Angeles Lakers successful Dallas connected April 5, 2026. (LM Otero/AP)

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"I don't cognize if he's making a closing statement," Mavericks caput manager Jason Kidd said. "I deliberation he's doing what he's been doing each season. Being capable to play antithetic positions. Being capable to beryllium uncomfortable. He's ne'er complained and has delivered for us.

"Tonight, being capable to bash it connected nationalist television, it's not easy. Especially coming disconnected a 50-ball. He wants to win, and helium helped the squad triumph tonight."

Flagg is starring the Mavericks, who improved to 25-53 with the win, with 20.8 points per game. He besides averages 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Knueppel has been a agleam spot for the Charlotte Hornets this play arsenic they look acceptable to marque the postseason for the archetypal clip since 2016. He’s 3rd connected the squad successful scoring, averaging 18.8 points per game. He besides averages 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

Dallas Mavericks guardant Cooper Flagg reacts to a people during the archetypal fractional of an NBA crippled against the Los Angeles Lakers successful Dallas connected April 5, 2026. (LM Otero/AP)

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Dallas has 4 games near to play, portion Charlotte has three.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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