Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg will miss his team’s first game following the All-Star break, a Friday night matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, due to a left midfoot sprain. The injury, sustained during a Feb. 10 loss to the Phoenix Suns, also sidelined Flagg for the Mavericks’ final game before the break against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told reporters in Minnesota on Thursday that Flagg’s condition is being evaluated on a day-to-day basis, according to the Associated Press. An MRI confirmed the midfoot sprain, the team reported.
The absence of Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, extends to six the number of games he has missed this season. Despite the injury, the 19-year-old is averaging 20.4 points and 6.6 assists per game. He previously missed a game in November due to illness.
The Mavericks’ loss to the Lakers marked their ninth consecutive defeat, the club’s longest losing streak since 1998. Currently holding a record of 19-35, Dallas is out of contention for a playoff berth in the Western Conference and is projected to participate in the draft lottery for the second consecutive year.
Flagg, a former Duke University standout, was seen in a walking boot while attending a Blue Devils game against Clemson on Saturday, but was not wearing the boot in a team-posted photo taken Thursday as the Mavericks prepared to travel to Minnesota. The team has two more road games scheduled after Friday’s contest.
