For the past six games, Cooper Flagg has been back in the position where he rose to national prominence — the forward spot, where he became the best player in the country in high school and college. The Mavericks initially opened his pro career by starting him at point guard for the season’s first seven games, a challenge he navigated while drawing strong praise from coach Jason Kidd.
“I don’t know if it was my confidence, but I think it’s just a lot of responsibility with being in that position,” Flagg said. “You’re being tasked with obviously creating for everyone else, honestly before yourself is a priority.
“(I’m) just trying to find ways to impact the game — and all those responsibilities — I don’t know if I was ready for that. But coach Kidd was confident in me, I was confident in myself. It wasn’t perfect, but I think I learned a lot through that.”
Flagg said he quickly realized the difference between being the one setting the table and being on the receiving end of actions. As Dallas replaced him with D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Williams over the past six games, he has been able to ease back into the physical, off-ball role that suits him best early in his career.
“That’s not to say I can’t play that (point guard) position in the future,” Flagg said. “But like I said, B-Will has been amazing. He’s been great for us with so much energy.
“D-Lo has showed up and has been great for us as well. It’s just hard not having those guys on the court.”
The Mavericks remain without Kyrie Irving, who underwent ACL surgery in March. In the meantime, Flagg has leaned heavily on Irving’s guidance.
“He’s just one of the ultimate player-coaches,” Flagg said. “He has so much knowledge about the game. I don’t know if there’s anybody that has ever seen the game like he sees it.”
Dallas will again rely on Flagg’s two-way activity and Brandon Williams’ ball-handling as they host a shorthanded Trail Blazers team Sunday night.
How to Watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Date: Sunday, Nov. 16
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX
TV: Local Broadcast
Live Stats: NBA.com
Social Media Updates: @GrantAfseth
Dallas Mavericks Injury Report
Cooper Flagg: Available (Right Thumb Sprain)
P.J. Washington: Probable (Left Shoulder Strain)
Anthony Davis: Doubtful (Left Calf Strain)
Kyrie Irving: Out (Left Knee Surgery)
Ryan Nembhard: Out (Left Knee Sprain)
Dante Exum: Out (Right Knee Injury Management)
Dereck Lively II returned Friday after missing nine games with a sprained right knee. He played 17 minutes in the loss to the Clippers, finishing with four points and five rebounds under a minutes restriction.
“You got to listen to what the (doctor) said,” Lively said. “It took time to get the results back, so we had to list what it was. We can’t lie to y’all.
“I had to listen to my body. There were things I couldn’t do, so I needed time to rest.”
Kidd noted that Lively’s presence still adds organization and vertical spacing.
“He does help with his voice and his play-making decisions and giving us second opportunities, and also lob threats,” Kidd said. “When he’s out there for 15 minutes we can hope that it’s a positive, and it gives us other options to be able to play through.”
Portland Trail Blazers Injury Report
Jrue Holiday: Questionable (Right Calf Soreness)
Scoot Henderson: Out (Left Hamstring Tear)
Damian Lillard: Out (Left Achilles Tendon Injury Management)
Matisse Thybulle: Out (Left Thumb Ligaments Tear)
Blake Wesley: Out (Right Foot Fracture)
Hansen Yang: Out (G League – On Assignment)
Javonte Cooke: Out (G League – Two-Way)
Portland has dropped four of its last six games, including Friday’s 140–116 loss at Houston. Deni Avdija had 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven turnovers in that game.
The Blazers remain the only team to beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder this season, rallying from 22 down on Nov. 5 to win 121–119.
Cooper Flagg Focused on Adjusting to Physicality
With the position change and heavier defensive responsibilities, Flagg said he continues learning from veterans who thrive in high-contact situations.
“All these guys are going to play with a high level of physicality, so you have to match that and you have to learn how to use physicality yourself,” Flagg said. “That’s just such a big part of the game.
“Learning from guys like Naji (Marshall) and P. J. (Washington) — that’s one of the biggest parts of their games is getting to the rim and playing with that force — is something that you can learn a lot from. And it’s really effective.”
Turnovers Continue to Be a Major Issue for Dallas
In Friday’s double-overtime loss to the Clippers, the Mavericks committed 22 turnovers, including several costly errors in both overtimes.
Flagg described them as “late game stupid turnovers” that swung the game.
“When we go with empty possessions and sometimes not even getting shots, it’s tough to win,” Flagg said. “We just got to be tighter with the ball, tighter with our communication and our setup and our spacing.
“We had a couple of possessions down in double-overtime where we just didn’t get a good look.”
Dereck Lively II Returns After Nine-Game Absence
Lively provided interior activity in his return but reached his minutes limit during regulation, making him unavailable for the overtime periods.
“Staying on top of my health — the food I put in, the water I put in,” Lively said. “Physically, I feel good. Just taking my time, listening to my body.”
Kidd said Lively’s voice defensively and ability to create extra possessions remain essential as Dallas continues without Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington.
What’s at Stake
This is the front end of a back-to-back for Dallas, which faces Minnesota on Monday. The Mavericks are 1–1 in the first game of back-to-back sets this season.
Dallas enters needing to limit turnovers and improve execution late in games. Portland arrives shorthanded but capable of explosive performances, as shown in its win over Oklahoma City.
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