Mavericks exclude Cooper Flagg from Friday’s matchup against the Wolves.
MINNEAPOLIS — Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg will miss the team’s first game following the All-Star break against Minnesota on Friday night due to a left midfoot sprain, an injury that also prevented the No. 1 pick from participating in the Rising Stars event.
Coach Jason Kidd informed reporters in Minnesota on Thursday that Flagg is currently classified as day-to-day.
The 19-year-old was also sidelined for the final game before the break against the Los Angeles Lakers after sustaining the injury during a loss to Phoenix on February 10. The team announced that an MRI confirmed Flagg’s injury. The Mavericks’ defeat to the Lakers marked their ninth consecutive loss, representing the franchise’s longest losing streak since 1998.
The former Duke player attended two games at his former school during the break. Flagg was observed in a walking boot when the Blue Devils triumphed over Clemson on Saturday, but he was not wearing one in a photo shared by the team on Thursday as he prepared to board the plane for the matchup against the Timberwolves. Dallas has two additional road games following this one.
The Mavericks (19-35) are currently out of the running for the Western Conference playoff spot and are heading toward the draft lottery for the second consecutive year. Last summer, Dallas converted a 1.8% chance for the draft rights to Flagg.
This matchup against the Timberwolves will mark the sixth game missed by Flagg, who is averaging 20.4 points and 6.6 assists. The first professional game he missed was due to an illness in November.
