The Mavericks got the result they wanted in Indiana. They left with a 121-105 win. But the night changed when Cooper Flagg went to the locker room after a hard foul while moving toward what looked like a breakaway dunk.
Flagg was ruled out for the second half because of left shoulder soreness. Dallas coach Dusty May said the forward would be evaluated over the next couple of days, and the team had no immediate answer about whether he would need an MRI. That leaves the Mavericks with a win to celebrate and a much bigger question to track.
Timing matters
The timing made the injury stand out. Dallas had opened up a huge lead, so Flagg’s absence did not force the Mavericks into a close finish. Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, and Dallas spoiled Tyrese Haliburton’s home return with a comfortable victory. Still, the margin does not make the concern disappear: Flagg is the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and a central part of the team’s plans.
My review of the Cooper Flagg injury: https://t.co/mPG1Wm0GGV
— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) October 24, 2026The important distinction for now is that the team reported soreness, not a diagnosis or a timetable. There is no basis to assume how serious the issue is until the evaluation is complete. The next update will matter far more than the first visual reaction to the play.
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What's next for Dallas star
That uncertainty is what makes this a story beyond one box score. A strong team win can quickly become secondary when a cornerstone player leaves early, particularly this early in the season. Dallas has already shown it can handle a game without Flagg for a half. The question is whether it will need to manage more time without him.
For Mavericks fans, Friday delivered two very different takeaways: the roster had enough to win comfortably, and the player whose development could shape the season now needs to be checked out. The score is settled. The Flagg update is still coming.
Dallas is right back at it Saturday night, as they will take on the San Antonio Spurs. The defending Western Conference champions will be in search of their first win of the season.
