{"id":574528,"date":"2026-02-01T06:14:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T06:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/574528\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T06:14:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T06:14:32","slug":"after-cooper-flagg-shines-again-jason-kidd-voices-frustrations-as-mavs-stumble-in-houston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/574528\/","title":{"rendered":"After Cooper Flagg shines again, Jason Kidd voices frustrations as Mavs stumble in Houston"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON \u2014 Jason Kidd<\/a> knew it was an unfair expectation for the Mavericks<\/a> to receive an encore scoring explosion from their star rookie, especially against one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t expect Cooper to have 49<\/a> tonight,\u201d the Mavericks coach said before his team faced the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

Flagg didn\u2019t replicate the highest-scoring game of his career, but he produced his fourth-best offensive performance with 34 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in a 111-107 loss at Toyota Center.<\/p>\n

After the game, Kidd voiced frustration at the officials during his postgame news conference, specifically toward Flagg\u2019s layup attempt with 25 seconds left that could\u2019ve tied the game at 109.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI saw a foul,\u201d Kidd said before calling the officiating crew out by name. \u201cSean (Wright), Simone (Jelks) and Jason (Goldberg) were awful tonight. It\u2019s unacceptable. It\u2019s a foul and he needs to be at the free throw line. Does he make both? That\u2019s up to the player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Kidd was livid during his postgame presser. He thought Cooper Flagg was fouled on this layup attempt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw a foul. Sean (Wright), Simone (Jelks) & Jason (Goldberg) were awful tonight. It\u2019s unacceptable. It\u2019s a foul & he needs to be at the free throw line. Does he make\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/pt5Jun7IC2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) February 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

For the second consecutive game, Flagg had an opportunity to tie in the waning seconds of the game but couldn\u2019t convert. He was surrounded by Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson on the shot attempt, but the officials did not blow their whistles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely felt some contact, but at the end of the day, the refs are the ones making the calls,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cIt is what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flagg was also asked for his reaction to Kidd\u2019s defense of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust trust,\u201d I feel like J-Kidd has a lot of trust in me and I have a lot of trust in him. Just building that relationship. I feel that we gotta continue to grow our bond and that\u2019s just him having my back.” <\/p>\n

The Rockets were called for 20 fouls, while the Mavericks were issued just 12. Houston had 15 free throw attempts and made 11, but the Mavericks benefitted from 26 attempts, only making just 15. Flagg connected on seven on his 10 attempts from the stripe.<\/p>\n

Kidd said his team persevered throughout the night despite what they believed was a lack of a whistle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe fight. We\u2019re going to play, not complain,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cAt some point, it\u2019s gotta be a review. He drives the ball. He gets slapped. It\u2019s a foul. If it was the other way, it would be a foul. Just being consistent and tonight the referees were not consistent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flagg has shown a significant improvement in initiating offense and handling ball pressure since the start of his rookie season when Kidd used him as the starting point guard for the first seven games. It was a decision that was met with national criticism since Flagg, a natural small forward, was new to the position.<\/p>\n

After the game, Kidd was asked about the criticism and dismissed the question with an expletive-laced response, using the F-word four times.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t give a f— about the criticism. \u201dThat\u2019s your opinion,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cYou guys write that bulls—. \u201dI\u2019ve done this. I\u2019ve played this game. I\u2019ve played it at a very high level. and I know what the f— I\u2019m doing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t give a f— what you guys write because you guys have never played the game. I have built players so I know what the f— I\u2019m doing. To take criticism, it only makes me better because if I wasn\u2019t doing it right, you guys wouldn\u2019t be poking holes at what I\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moments before Flagg\u2019s potential-game tying miss, he brought the Mavericks within two points with a left-handed layup, which set up a game-tying floater by Naji Marshall with 47 seconds left.<\/p>\n

However, Alperen Sengun gave the Rockets the lead for good once he connected on a layup over Max Christie with 28.6 seconds left.<\/p>\n

On a night when the Mavericks lost two rotation players to injury,<\/a> Flagg kept his team competitive with the fifth 30-point game of his career. With his latest performance, he became the first teenager in NBA history with consecutive 30-point double-doubles, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n

However, his production alone wasn\u2019t enough to match Houston, which had six players reach double scoring figures. The Rockets were led by Thompson, who came close to a triple-double with 21 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Jabari Smith Jr. had 19 points with eight assists.<\/p>\n

It appeared as if Brandon Williams would be Flagg\u2019s co-star, but the Mavericks point guard suffered a right lower leg contusion in the second quarter of Saturday\u2019s game. Williams collided with Rockets guard Reed Sheppard in the second quarter and did not return to the game.<\/p>\n

Williams scored all 13 points in the first quarter, providing an instant lift from the bench. PJ Washington also exited the game in the third quarter with a head contusion, which continued Dallas\u2019 woeful string of injuries.<\/p>\n

Kidd did not provide an injury update for either player, but acknowledged the team\u2019s inability to stay healthy this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one thing that\u2019s been consistent is injuries,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been hit with a lot of injuries and unfortunately, it\u2019s weighing and stretching guys. It\u2019s next man up mentality and the guys have responded in a positive way.”<\/p>\n

The Mavericks will return home to prepare for Tuesday\u2019s matchup against the Boston Celtics, Flagg\u2019s favorite team growing up in Newport, Maine. <\/p>\n

The game arrives right in the midst of Flagg\u2019s best two-game stretch as a pro.<\/p>\n

Twitter\/X: @MikeACurtis2<\/a><\/p>\n

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n