As the Rookie of the Year race between Flagg and Kon Knueppel has heated up, the Dallas phenom has shifted into a higher gear.
As the Rookie of the Year race between Flagg and Kon Knueppel has heated up, the Dallas phenom has shifted into a higher gear.Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg goes to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Portland, Ore.
Gradually, inexorably, Portland overtook Dallas early in the third quarter, but the Mavericks responded and led for most of the fourth quarter. Portland tied the score at 92 on a Jrue Holiday 3-pointer with 2:19 left, but two baskets by Marvin Bagley III gave Dallas the lead for good and eventually a 100-92 victory Friday night here in Moda Center. Psychologically it was a much-needed win for a Mavericks team that had lost five straight, 14 of 16 and 24 of 28 games,Well, on Friday Dallas played its NBA-high 43rd clutch game, but won for just the 16th time in those situations. At 24-50, wins are not of primary importance to Dallas, so it’s not surprising that subplots became the Mavericks’ positive focal points, both involving young star Cooper Flagg. On a night when their beloved Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight, ex-Duke standouts Flagg and Bagley scored exactly half of Dallas’ 100 points. In this stretch of his drive to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors, Flagg clearly has shifted into a higher gearIt’s debated which statement Friday night was more emphatic. Was it Flagg’s 20 first-half points, which marked his 11th 20-point half of the season ?“Yeah, I think it’s a big priority that the organization pays attention to this,” Kidd said. Once upon a time, Mavericks rookie point guard Kidd earned NBA co-ROY honors with Grant Hill, bringing national prestige to a Dallas organization that had been a combined 24-140 in the two seasons prior to his arrival. “But it’s not just the organization,” Kidd said. “This is a partnership, and Cooper has to be able to do his part. And he’s doing his part.“He’s having a historic year as a rookie. When you put his numbers up against past rookies who have won the award, it’s clear-cut that it’s not even close that he is the one that will win Rookie of the Year. “Sometimes votes are looked at differently. Everybody has their opinion on the vote, of popularity, of what the trend is. And so nothing against Kneuppel. He’s having a heck of a season, too. But when you look at the numbers, just the strict numbers, Cooper’s are as good as anybody’s.”Barely an hour after Duke’s 80-75 victory over St. John’s, Blue Devil Mavericks Bagley and Flagg combined to lead Dallas to a 32-22 lead after one quarter.The Mavericks’ lead grew to 54-37 with 4:18 left in the second quarter, but by halftime Portland closed the gap to 56-51, despite Flagg’s 12 second-period points. After Portland took a 66-64 lead with 7:55 left in the third quarter, the Mavericks responded by scoring seven straight points – four of them on back-to-back Bagley baskets, to regain a lead they would keep until the night’s final frantic two minutes.Dallas Mavericks CEO: City approached team ‘over a year ago’ about moving out of City HallDallas Morning News sports reporter since 1993. Prior to that he worked at The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Light. Eight-time APSE award winner; 2016 National Headliner Award; 2018 Celeste Williams Texas Sportswriter of the Year; 2021 NSMA Texas Sportswriter of the Year.‘These are my people’: Texas AG Ken Paxton receives heaping of hugs and handshakes at CPAC
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