The 19-year-old forward is active for Monday’s game against the Miami Heat after missing Saturday’s home-opening loss to San Antonio because of a mild left shoulder sprain.
The Mavericks previously announced that Flagg would be re-evaluted this week. He was subsequently listed as questionable on Sunday, and went through shootaround Monday morning at Kaseya Center, signaling his imminent return to the lineup.
Mavericks coach Dusty May said Flagg was a gametime decision, one that would be decided after his pregame routine. Minutes before he was upgraded to available, Flagg was in good spirits as he danced on his way to the training room, located deep inside the visitor’s locker room of Kaseya Center.
Flagg will reunite with his co-star Kyrie Irving, who is active for Monday’s game after missing Saturday’s game because it was the second night of a back-to-back, as part of his left knee injury management.
The Mavericks (1-2) will be without five players Monday night in Miami: Naji Marshall (illness), Santi Aldama (right knee surgery), Tarik Biberovic (right heel bursitis), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) and Caleb Martin, who was downgraded from doubtful to out because of a right thumb sprain.
Monday’s game against Miami serves as a reunion for Martin, the former Heat forward who played three years in Miami from 2021-24. It also reunites several Mavericks players with Klay Thompson, who signed with the rival Heat as an unrestricted free agent following a buyout agreement in August.
The Heat (0-3) seeks its first win after a bleak start to the season, with defeats at the hands of Minnesota, Detroit and Charlotte.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who also doubles as the new head coach of the US men’s national team, praised Flagg’s maturity and versatility during his pregame news conference.
“He’s an absolute winning player,” Spoelstra said. “A force of nature with his style of play. He’s gonna impose his competitive nature on every single possession. For a young player, I think that’s unique that he can impact a game without scoring.”