Kawhi Leonard reveals the secret of Cooper Flagg’s historic game

Cooper Flagg provided more than a historic night against the LA Clippers. He too elicited an honest assessment of the Clippers star Kawhi Leonardwhose breakdown after the game he correctly revealed how the Dallas rookie managed one of the most memorable performances ever recorded by an eighteen-year-old.

Flagg scored 35 points in the Mavericks’ 114-110 victory Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome. The total made him the youngest player in league history to reach that level. After that, Leonard is credited with coaching Dallas Jason Kidd for putting Flagg in positions where the Clippers couldn’t contain him.

“Jason Kidd did a good job of spreading the floor, letting him attack, get to his spots,” Leonard he said postgame. “(He) got to the free throw line, made it up the middle, got fouled.

Cooper Flagg is now the youngest player to ever score 35 points in a game

Asked Kawhi Leonard about his first game against Flagg

“Jason Kidd did a good job of spreading the floor, letting him attack, get to his spots. He got to the free throw line, made it up the middle, got fouled.” pic.tvitter.com/cfeChMgcij

— Lav Murray ⛲ (@LavMurraiTheNU) November 30, 2025

That scouting report turned out to be correct. Flagg hit 13 of his 22 attempts, made nine free throws and grabbed eight rebounds while carrying a Dallas roster that was missing multiple starters. His assertiveness at the rim even sparked a powerful dunk in the third quarter over Ivica Zubac that sent the Mavericks bench into a frenzy.

The Clippers had several answers for Cooper Flagg

It was the second night in a row that Flagg controlled the action. He had 11 assists against the Lakers on Friday and then showed his ceiling against the Clippers. Kidd said the rookie behaved with rare composure for a player who should be a freshman.

The Clippers had few answers other than Leonard and James Hardenwhich combined for 59 points. Los Angeles continued its troubling trend of fading in the second half. The Clippers surrendered another double-digit lead and were hurt by 18 turnovers and long stretches of no defensive communication.

Klay Thompson kept Dallas afloat in the fourth quarter with 17 of his 23 points, including a three-pointer with less than two minutes left. Flagg closed out the game at the line, sinking all six of his attempts in the final moments.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak in Dallas and dropped the Clippers to 5-15. Leonard said Los Angeles needs to find energy and focus quickly, but his praise for Flagg underscored the night. Novak attacked mercilessly and left one of the league’s most respected defenders to admit exactly how it happened.