{"id":612840,"date":"2026-02-20T03:13:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T03:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/612840\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T03:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T03:13:19","slug":"mavericks-cooper-flagg-will-miss-fridays-game-against-timberwolves-jason-kidd-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/612840\/","title":{"rendered":"Mavericks\u2019 Cooper Flagg will miss Friday\u2019s game against Timberwolves, Jason Kidd says"},"content":{"rendered":"

MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 Mavericks coach Jason Kidd<\/a> said Cooper Flagg<\/a> will miss Friday\u2019s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves to continue rehabilitation of his left midfoot sprain<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Flagg did not participate in Thursday\u2019s practice at the University of Minnesota and spent most of the open 15-minute period jogging and sprinting under the instruction of Geoff Puls, the Mavericks<\/a>\u2019 head strength and performance coach.<\/p>\n

Kidd was noncommittal when asked if he was hopeful that Flagg would play on the team\u2019s three-game road trip that continues into next week with stops in Indianapolis and Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to take it day by day,\u201d Kidd said.<\/p>\n

Mavericks<\/p>\n

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Jason Kidd said Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain) is out for tomorrow\u2019s game against the Wolves.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s not wearing the boot he wore to a Duke game over the weekend. Kidd said his status is day to day when it comes to possibly returning during this 3-game road trip. pic.twitter.com\/2MYmNe1jj6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) February 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Flagg suffered the midfoot sprain on Feb. 10 in a loss to the Phoenix Suns<\/a> and missed last Thursday\u2019s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, along with the Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks rookie spent most of his All-Star break at his alma mater, Duke, and watched a trio of men and women\u2019s basketball games. On Saturday, Flagg had a walking boot on his left foot. Naturally, the boot was absent during his light workout on Thursday.<\/p>\n

As Flagg jogged from one side of the court to the other, Kyrie Irving<\/a> participated in a shooting drill with fellow point guards Brandon Williams and Tyus Jones under the instruction of Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy.<\/p>\n

Irving was ruled out for the 2025-26 season<\/a> on Wednesday to continue recovering from his torn ACL suffered last March. Irving was complementary of Flagg during a Twitch live stream on Saturday<\/a>, saying \u201che\u2019s doing things that some of the greats, even before him, didn\u2019t do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kidd addressed Irving\u2019s excitement to eventually play with Flagg.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at Cooper up close and seeing what he\u2019s done so far, [Irving\u2019s] excited because he\u2019s played at a very high level here,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cA lot of times with 18 or 19 [year-olds], it takes a little time but with Cooper, he\u2019s been able to make a big jump.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flagg has been one of the most durable players for the Mavericks in a season marred by injuries. He\u2019s only missed five games of his rookie season and leads the Mavericks in total points (999), rebounds (321), assists (202) and steals (58).<\/p>\n

The shorthanded Mavericks enter Friday\u2019s game against the Timberwolves riding a nine-game losing streak. They are 0-2 in the season series against Minnesota.<\/p>\n

Flagg isn\u2019t the only player listed on the Mavericks\u2019 injury report. Max Christie is questionable for Friday\u2019s game because of a left ankle sprain suffered in Thursday\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n

Daniel Gafford and Caleb Martin will also be listed as questionable for Friday\u2019s game. Gafford left in the fourth quarter of last week\u2019s loss to the Lakers because of right ankle soreness and Martin sprained his left ankle against the Suns.<\/p>\n

Kidd said the main goal for the final 28 games of the season revolves around the development of his team, but most importantly, staying healthy.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting out of this healthy,\u201d Kidd said.<\/p>\n

Based on Dallas\u2019 injury misfortune over the last two seasons, that goal is easier said than done.<\/p>\n

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

\"USA<\/a>NBA Commissioner Adam Silver talks anti-tanking options with GMs, per multiple reports<\/a><\/p>\n

Tanking has been a major talking point across the NBA in recent weeks with multiple teams receiving big fines.<\/p>\n

\"Dallas<\/a>Cooper Flagg\u2019s game-worn jersey from Mavericks debut sells for record $1 million<\/a><\/p>\n

The previous record was from Victor Wembanyama\u2019s jersey from his NBA debut, which was sold for $762,000.<\/p>\n