The Dallas Mavericks slumped to an 87-100 loss to the OKC Thunder on Sunday night, as the franchise entered the game without six players. This included rookie sensation Cooper Flagg who missed his sixth consecutive game with a midfoot sprain.
The franchise is 21-39 this season and look unlikely to make a late push for the NBA playoffs at this point. Their remaining 22 games this season are valuable developmental time for Flagg, as the franchise will hope to return to the playoffs next season with a 2026 lottery pick and a returning Kyrie Irving.
With his status for the Mavericks' Tuesday night game against the Charlotte Hornets hasn't been confirmed by the team, reputed reporter Marc Stein has shared an update on Flagg's status.
"There is some rising optimism in Dallas that Cooper Flagg is nearing a return from a midfoot sprain that has sidelined him for the past seven games dating to Feb. 10. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has already announced that Flagg playing Tuesday in Charlotte in another Rookie of the Year showdown against the Hornets' Kon Knueppel is "probably not" in play ... but stay tuned."
This is big news for the Mavericks, who were without Cooper Flagg (midfoot), Marvin Bagley III (neck), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Naji Marshall (finger) and P.J. Washington (ankle) in their game against the Thunder on Sunday.
While the team has new frontcourt options like Khris Middleton to rely on as well, nothing is more valuable than giving Flagg playing time. He's already developed so much over the season, and more time on-court bodes well for the 19-year-old forward.
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Flagg is also in a heated battle for rookie of the year against former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel. Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season while Knueppel is putting up 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Knueppel's historic three-point shooting on a potential playoff team has many in his camp, but Flagg's versatile all-around game will make a case for itself.
With the Mavericks next game against Knueppel's Hornets, it'd be a must-see matchup if Flagg returns to the court against his former teammate and now rival. The Mavericks will be hoping for the same, given the injuries across the roster.