Watch Cooper Flagg make his first NBA 3-pointer
Dallas Mavericks newcomer Cooper Flagg drained his first NBA three-pointer on Friday night and followed it up with the kind of all-out buzz that makes this building buzz, even though the Washington Wizards held a 76-65 lead midway through the third quarter.
The 18-year-old forward stopped and hit a three-pointer that briefly injected life into the A Mavericks offense still trying to find its footing after a rough opening Wednesday. Flagg didn’t just rush to score goals; he set up his teammates, led the floor and put up a stat line that reflected a rookie handling bigger responsibilities: 7 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in 21 minutes.
Washington did not make it easy. Keyshon George outscored the Wizards with 26 points, and the guests shot better and better as they built a double-digit lead in the first half. Still, the Mavericks, led by Anthony Davis’ 16 points and 10 rebounds, kept coming back, and Flagg’s 3-pointer served as a reminder of why Dallas invested the No. 1 pick in him.
This was never going to be a scoring night for Flagg; he’s more of a do-it-all prospect from Duke who wins with versatility. Tonight, he showed that positional polish: a sweet spin for a slam earlier in the game, some neat passes into the paint and a willingness to mix it up defensively against veterans.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd was careful to temper expectations. Flagg’s role will grow when the situation calls for it, but the first 3 points is a turning point regardless of the outcome. That gives Flag and this roster another dimension on the perimeter. That small strategic shift could make all the difference in a tight Western Conference going forward.
2025-10-25 02:38:00
