Cooper Flagg continues stacking up impressive performances.
The Mavericks’ star rookie made his mark against three-time MVP Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, going bucket for bucket against arguably the NBA’s best player. Flagg finished with 33 points as the Mavericks won 131-130. Flagg finished a rebound and an assist shy of becoming the fourth Mavericks rookie to notch a triple-double, which would’ve joined him with Luka Dončić, Dennis Smith Jr. and Dallas head coach Jason Kidd.
Flagg’s four 3-pointers marked his most in a game this season. He shot 16.2 percent from deep in his previous 14 games.
The close final score reflected what turned out to be an exciting finish to arguably Dallas’ most impressive win of the season. Nuggets forward Peyton Watson missed a potential game-winner as the buzzer sounded.
COOPER FLAGG ELEVATES AND SLAMS IT!!!!
28 POINTS AND COUNTING… 📈
Tap to watch: https://t.co/FNNC5Y88P2 pic.twitter.com/0e0KWhz2FE
— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2025
Flagg wasted little time giving the Nuggets all they could handle, scoring 14 first-quarter points to tie his highest-scoring quarter. He finished Tuesday’s first half with 22 points as Dallas held a 10-point lead. Like his MVP counterpart, Flagg did a bit of everything on offense, ranging from timely pull-up jumpers to crafty drives toward the rim and setting up teammates for buckets. Flagg’s outing continued what is becoming increasingly evident: Flagg is finding his rhythm on the NBA level.
Although the Mavericks are only 12-19 this season, they’re 8-5 in the 13 games their prized rookie has scored at least 20 points. His 90 percent shooting in the first half marked the most efficient half of his career. He also entered the matchup averaging 5.4 dimes in his previous five games, which doesn’t include the career-high 11 assists he dished on Nov. 28 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Flagg also illustrated his proficiency playing alongside veteran talent. Mavericks big man Anthony Davis secured his second consecutive 30-point game Tuesday, marking the first time he and the 2025 No. 1 pick scored 30 points in the same game. The pair combined to shoot 65 percent as Dallas gave Denver all it could handle throughout the night.
Flagg is currently favored to win this season’s Rookie of the Year award, and his performance Tuesday was sound evidence as to why. Although Mavericks fans spent much of the calendar year frustrated about Dončić being abruptly traded, Flagg’s flashes continue showing why Dallas could have brighter days ahead. Going head-to-head against an all-time great adds to a short but impressive list of reasons to respect Flagg’s game.
