Cooper Flagg injured on flagrant foul, leaves game & doesn’t return

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg injured his left shoulder during a hard foul from Indiana Pacers' Aaron Nesmith in their NBA game on Friday night. Flagg was racing towards the basket in transition when Nesmith challenged him from behind, causing Flagg to crash to the floor. He was immediately assessed a Flagrant 1 foul and left the game with his team ruling him out for the remainder of the contest due to left shoulder soreness.

Despite grabbing two free throws, Flagg did not return for the second half. The Dallas Mavericks, who had built a substantial lead before his injury, ultimately won 121-105, but the focus shifted to Flagg's condition. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year last season, Flagg's status will be closely monitored given his importance to the team's success in his second NBA season.