Cooper Flagg becomes 1st teen to reach 50 in an NBA game

DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg did not get a name, and his coach and a teammate bought kicked out of the game making an attempt to stick up for the rookie No. 1 decide of the Dallas Mavericks.

Less than 1 / 4 later, Flagg was the primary teenager to rating 51 factors in an NBA game in Dallas’ 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic on (*50*) evening.

Flagg scored 24 factors in the fourth quarter after coach Jason Kidd and ahead Naji Marshall had been ejected complaining about what they thought was a no-call when Desmond Bane fouled Flagg.

Kidd was tossed although he was assessed only one technical foul, whereas Marshall had obtained one other tech on the finish of the primary half. His second got here simply moments after Kidd was thrown out.

“It’s great to see,” Flagg mentioned after going 19-for-30 from the sphere and making all seven of his free throws and topping his earlier profession excessive of 49 in a 123-121 to Charlotte on Jan. 29.

“I already know that coach has my back and Naji… I know he has my back for sure out there,” Flagg mentioned. “Just seeing their emotion, seeing them fight for me and fight for the calls. Definitely some emotion, and motivated me even further.”

Flagg exited the game with 45 factors, however assistant coach Frank Vogel, filling in for Kidd, advised the 19-year-old he was simply resting him throughout a defensive possession.

Vogel known as a timeout to get Flagg again in with 3:22 remaining, and Flagg made historical past a little bit greater than a minute later. He missed a 3-pointer the primary time down, then missed a observe try on Brandon Williams’ miss, bought the rebound once more and made a nook 3.

On the following Dallas possession, he hit an off-balance shot in the lane whereas getting fouled to clinch 50, made the free throw and left to a standing ovation.

The Mavericks had been down 30 when Flagg began his fourth-quarter scoring barrage in what ended up being their 14th consecutive dwelling loss. It’s the longest dwelling dropping streak since Dallas misplaced the primary 19 video games at since-demolished Reunion Arena in 1993-94.

“It’s always fun getting into that kind of mode,” Flagg said. “The basket feels big. My teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I like to win. That was my main focus. “It’s hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we’re down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game.”

Flagg mentioned he thought it was apparent Bane had fouled him in the opening two minutes of the fourth.

“I think it was warranted,” Flagg mentioned about Kidd’s response. “I’m not going to lie. I talked to Bane after the play, and he told me he was intentionally trying to foul me. I honestly don’t know how they didn’t see that. Obviously, they must not have had the right view, or they weren’t paying attention. But they missed it.”