Cooper Flagg’s big play brings out the ‘mature’ Nikola Jokic
The Dallas Mavericks continue to see the tangible proof that Cooper Flag is way ahead of scheduleand Tuesday night’s dramatic win over the Denver Nuggets may have been the clearest example yet.
In a hard-fought 131-130 victory, Dallas survived a late rally by Denver after leading by as many as 18 points. While Nikola Jokic nearly authored another signature comeback — finishing with 29 points and 14 assists before drawing the defense and passing to Peyton Watson for a potential game-winning 3-pointer, it was Flagg’s composure that stood out the most for the three-time MVP.
After the game, Jokic offered rare praise for the 19-year-old rookie, contextualizing Flagg’s influence beyond the scope of results.
“He was definitely the hot hand out there,” Jokic told Flagg via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “He doesn’t feel like he’s that young out there. He looks like he’s played meaningful games and won before. That’s my opinion. He looked really mature out there.”
That maturity showed throughout the night. Flagg had a career-high 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, narrowly missed his first NBA triple-double.
He shot an efficient 14-of-21 from the field and knocked down four 3-pointers, and 22 of his points came before halftime as Dallas built early control.
Anthony Davis was a dominant presence inside, scoring 31 points, nine rebounds and four assists, marking his first consecutive 30-point game since joining the Mavericks.
Naji Marshall added 15 points to extend his streak of at least 15 points on 50 percent or better shooting to nine straight games.
Denver responded with Jamal Murray’s 31 points and a season-high 14 assists, while former Maverick Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 23 points with seven three-pointers. Still, Dallas’ offensive efficiency, which finished above 57 percent from the floor and went 50-40-90 as a team, proved decisive.
More importantly, it reinforced the growing belief that Flagg doesn’t just produce – he handles the pressure like a pro. With another test looming against the Golden State Warriors, Dallas could be watching his rookie grow in real time.
2025-12-24 08:03:00
