Cooper Flagg Tweaks Shoulder; Status Unclear

Rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg has shown promise and earned praise from veterans including Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. He recorded his second career double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) in a win over an injury-depleted Indiana Pacers and is averaging roughly 13 points and 6 rebounds through his first games. Flagg tweaked his left shoulder while boxing out in a back-to-back vs. defending champion Oklahoma City, finishing that game with 2 points on 1-of-9 shooting, two rebounds, two steals, no assists and a team-worst -20 in 31 minutes. Coach Jason Kidd sat Flagg for most of crunch time as he managed the rotation, a move Flagg accepted, and team officials say they will balance his development with caution to avoid long-term damage. Flagg said he will get scans and is optimistic the shoulder is only sore, rather than committing to a specific return date. The Mavericks have had an uneven start amid offensive struggles and a crowded Western Conference, raising questions about their playoff prospects until Kyrie Irving’s expected return.