Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg left the team’s loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday with a sprained left ankle.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Flagg initially hurt his left foot during Monday’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets then landed awkwardly on it with 6:01 remaining in the second quarter against the Nuggets. Flagg grabbed the ankle for a few moments while grimacing in pain.
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Flagg returned later in the second quarter but was clearly struggling with the injury. He did not play in the second half and did not return to the bench.
“He stepped on someone’s foot and so I think last game he twisted his ankle, too,” Kidd told reporters after the game. “So they decided to hold him for the second half.”
Mavericks center Daniel Gafford also left with an ankle injury. The Nuggets beat the Mavs 118-109.
Flagg has lived up to his status as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, averaging 19.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Despite the Mavericks’ struggles, he is the favorite for this season’s Rookie of the Year award.
