On Dec. 28, the Dallas Mavericks traveled to Sacramento, hoping to bounce back from a demoralizing Christmas Day loss to the Golden State Warriors. It was the game that also saw All-Star Anthony Davis exit early with a groin injury. Instead, the Mavs suffered another setback, falling 113–107 to the Kings and dropping their fourth game in the last five outings.
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Cooper Flagg Calls Out Mavericks’ Energy After Slow Start
Once again, rookie sensation Cooper Flagg carried the offensive load. The 19-year-old finished with 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists on an efficient 7-for-13 shooting night. But after the final buzzer, Flagg made it clear that individual numbers meant little in the face of another disappointing loss.
The frustration was evident in Flagg’s postgame comments, which were shared by Mavericks beat writer Mike Curtis on X.
“We just didn’t come out with great energy,” Flagg said. “Our starter guys gotta be better with that, getting us off to a great start, me included. Obviously, I had a terrible first half. But not a lot of energy for us. We gotta be better coming out ready to play. I think that’s a big part of it.”
Flagg’s self-critique wasn’t unfounded. He was largely invisible in the opening quarter, logging nine minutes without scoring a single point while recording just one rebound and two assists. The Mavs dug themselves into an early hole with a 15-point deficit in the first half. Despite a stronger second-half push, the Mavericks never fully recovered.
The Kings took advantage of the sluggish start and controlled the tempo for much of the night, handing Jason Kidd’s squad another loss in a season where wins have already been hard to come by.
Flagg’s Historic Rookie Run Continues Despite Team Struggles
Even amid the loss, Flagg’s performance added another chapter to what has already been a historic rookie campaign. With his latest outing, Flagg became just the third teenager in NBA history to record three straight games of at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. The only other players to accomplish that feat before turning 20 are Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
The responsibility on Flagg’s shoulders has only grown. Head coach Kidd made a notable lineup change against Sacramento, swapping Naji Marshall into the starting unit in place of Ryan Nembhard.
The move effectively shifted Flagg into the primary point guard role, a position he opened the season playing during the first seven games that yielded mixed results.
Adding to Mavs’ challenges is the continued absence of Davis. Saturday marked the Mavericks’ 17th game without the star big man, who is dealing with right adductor soreness. Davis was listed as questionable before being ruled out roughly two hours before tipoff, leaving Flagg once again to shoulder much of the offensive burden.
Dallas will have little time to regroup, as the Mavericks are set to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 29.