Cooper Flagg leaves game, does not return after flagrant foul leads to shoulder soreness

Cooper Flagg left the game and did not return for the Mavericks after this foul by the Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith.

Aaron Nesmith was called for a Flagrant 1 for this play on Cooper Flagg.

Double technicals were given to Nesmith and Naji Marshall after the play. pic.twitter.com/P0xLooKo9S

— ESPN (@espn) October 24, 2026

Flagg did not return due to "shoulder soreness," and coach Dusty May Flagg would be evaluated over the coming days but was in good spirits. His status for Saturday night’s game, when Dallas hosts Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, remains unclear as of this writing.

Nesmith was given a flagrant foul for a foul on a helpless defender. Dallas’ Naji Marshall ran over and stood up for his teammate, started a scuffle with Nesmith, and picked up a technical foul for his actions (Nesmith also got a technical).

After the game, not just his teammates but the Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving stuck up for him, saying it was a hard NBA foul but not more than that. May added this.

"Nesmith’s a great guy. Heck of a player. ‘’ve known him since he was in high school," May said from the podium. "An unfortunate play. Hopefully Coo’’s fine, but obviously i’’s something we wish would’’t have happened."

Dallas cruised to a comfortable 121-105 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Mavericks’ first win of the season.

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.