Cooper Flagg almost single-handedly eliminates the Pelicans from the NBA Cup
The Dallas Mavericks they may still be reeling from their disastrous decision to trade Luka Doncic, but they have plenty of reason to look forward to a brighter future. Cooper Flagg is the main reason the Mavs have a long-term prospect it’s not as bleak as it could have been after the Doncic trade. And while Flagg experienced plenty of growing pains, the talent he possesses is clear — especially during theirs NBA Cup Friday’s contest against the New Orleans Pelicans.
After a surprisingly slow start to the night, Flagg finished with aplomb and nearly led the Mavericks to a 118-115 victory over the struggling Pelicans. He was unstoppable in the fourthscoring 12 points on 4-5 shooting from the field and 4-5 from the foul line — finished with 29 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 12-19 shooting overall, perhaps his best game as a pro to date.
Cooper Flagg LEAVES in the Mavs win to eliminate the Pelicans from the NBA Cup 😤🍿
29 points
7 jumps
5 assists
12-of-19 FY pic.twitter.com/CVKIceMHKN— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 22, 2025
Of course, it speaks to the state of affairs for the Mavericks that their game against a struggling Pelicans team ultimately ended in failure. But it also speaks to Flagg’s mental strength that he stuck to the task and helped Dallas cross the finish line victorious.
In the end, however, it was not Flagg who struck the decisive blow. It was Naji Marshall who drove the dagger into the heart of the Pelicans, hitting a 3-pointer from which New Orleans could not recover.
But still, this is Flagg’s team, and they’ll only go as far as their new franchise cornerstone takes them.
Cooper Flagg hits his stride for the Mavericks
Considering who he replaces (Doncic), expectations for Flagg going into his rookie season were always unrealistic. It should be remembered that he is only 18 years old (turning 19 next month). But Flagg is showing some two-way power that isn’t easily seen in many rookies like him, and the Mavericks have to be very pleased with the progress he’s making.
While Dallas is still mourning the loss of Doncic, they can at least look forward to Flegg’s developmental path to becoming one of the best players in the NBA.
2025-11-22 06:24:00
