Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks were in the process of spoiling Tyrese Haliburton’s return in front of the home fans when the 19-year-old forward exited the game with injury. Flagg has been ruled out after sustaining a shoulder injury on a Flagrant-1 foul by Indiana Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith on a fastbreak. The injury happened in the final minute of the first half, and the Mavericks were already up 33 points when it happened.
Flagg raced down the floor in transition following a bad turnover by Indiana forward Pascal Siakam. Nesmith charged after him and challenged the play from behind. The two sides scuffled after Flagg went down, and the refs reviewed the play before assessing a Flagrant-1 on Nesmith. Flagg stayed in the game to make both free throws, and then headed the locker room. He didn’t start the second half, and wasn’t even on the Dallas bench.
Watch the play where Flagg was injured here:
Nesmith remained in the game. Players are only ejected for Flagrant-2 fouls, which Nesmith didn’t get because he hit Flagg in the arm while going for the ball, not his head.
Here’s the injury announcement from the Mavericks. The team called it “left shoulder soreness.”
Flagg had 14 minutes, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals in 17 minutes at the time of the injury.
We’ll update this story as it develops.