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Cooper Flagg made NBA history while the Mavericks had a 12-point quarter
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- Cooper Flagg made NBA history while the Mavericks had a 12-point quarter
Cooper Flagg made NBA history while the Mavericks had a 12-point quarter originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Cooper Flagg gave the Dallas Mavericks almost everything they could have wanted from their young franchise cornerstone on opening night. He scored 32 points, attacked the basket and established an NBA record that offered another reminder of his extraordinary potential.
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Somehow, Dallas still lost by 18 points.
The Mavericks fell 128-110 to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, and the most revealing number in the box score had nothing to do with Flagg's individual production. Dallas scored just 12 points in the second quarter, turning a competitive opening period into a game the Mavericks spent the entire second half trying to rescue.
It was the kind of night that perfectly illustrated the difference between having a superstar and having a championship-caliber team.
Flagg accomplished something no teenager had done
Flagg's 32 points represented the highest-scoring performance by a teenager in an NBA season opener. The 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick, now entering his second professional season, continued building on the promise that made him one of basketball's most anticipated young players.
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year also demonstrated an encouraging ability to draw contact. Flagg attempted 13 free throws and converted 11, giving Dallas an important source of offense when other parts of its attack struggled.
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That willingness to attack the basket matters because Flagg is still developing the offensive versatility that could eventually make him one of the league's most difficult players to defend. He already possesses the size, athleticism and scoring instincts to create problems for opponents, but getting to the foul line consistently adds another dimension.
There is something remarkable about a teenager producing 32 points in an NBA opener and having that performance overshadowed by his team's struggles. Yet that was precisely the situation Dallas faced against Houston.
One quarter changed the entire game
Houston outscored Dallas 38-12 in the second quarter, creating a 70-38 halftime advantage. The 26-point difference during those 12 minutes was larger than the Mavericks' eventual 18-point margin of defeat.
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That detail is particularly striking because it shows just how competitive Dallas was outside its disastrous second period. The Mavericks outscored Houston by eight points across the other three quarters combined, but the hole created before halftime was simply too large.
Flagg acknowledged afterward that second-quarter struggles had become a recurring concern during the preseason. His comments suggested Dallas was already aware of the problem before its first regular-season game, making the collapse even more frustrating.
New coach Dusty May also faces the challenge of integrating Kyrie Irving back into the offense. Irving scored 15 points in his first regular-season appearance since suffering a torn left ACL in March 2025.
The Mavericks have talent, but talent alone does not automatically produce an efficient offense. Players must establish roles, develop chemistry and learn how to respond when an opponent begins controlling the game.
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Dallas has a superstar, but the next step is bigger
The encouraging news for Mavericks fans is that Flagg looks increasingly comfortable carrying significant offensive responsibility. His opening-night performance demonstrated that he can produce against a talented opponent even when his team is struggling.
The concern is that Dallas cannot expect a teenager to solve every problem. A championship contender needs consistent defensive effort, productive supporting players and an offense capable of surviving stretches when its leading scorer is not dominating.
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The Mavericks have another opportunity Friday against Indiana, a team welcoming Tyrese Haliburton back to its home court after a lengthy injury absence. That matchup provides an immediate chance for Dallas to show that Wednesday's second-quarter collapse was an isolated disaster rather than the beginning of a troubling pattern.
Flagg's record deserves recognition. Scoring 32 points in a season opener as a teenager is extraordinary, regardless of the result.
But the most important number for Dallas moving forward might not be 32. It might be 12, the number of points the Mavericks managed during the quarter that cost them their first game.
