Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 35 points, surpassing LeBron James' mark in a 114-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The 18-year-old forward added eight rebounds and showcased aggressive play, including a dunk over Ivica Zubac. This performance follows his record 11 assists in a loss to the Lakers the previous night.
In a standout game on Saturday night, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg led the Dallas Mavericks to a 114-110 road win against the Los Angeles Clippers, snapping a three-game losing streak for Dallas. Flagg, at 18 years and 343 days old, scored 35 points on 13-of-22 shooting (59.1% from the field), grabbing eight rebounds and dishing two assists. He tallied 21 points in the first half, exploiting minimal defense from James Harden, and made crucial plays late, including a pull-up mid-range jumper under two minutes remaining and free throws after drawing a foul on Zubac with 45 seconds left.
Flagg's explosive dunk over Clippers center Ivica Zubac highlighted his aggression. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised his composure: “He’s only 18 years old, but he seems like he’s been in this league before. He did it all tonight.” Teammate Klay Thompson, who scored 23 points with six 3-pointers—including the go-ahead triple with 1:51 left—added, “Cooper’s upside is limitless.” Flagg himself noted, “Being aggressive right now is obviously right for me, and that’s what Coach has stressed to me.”
For the Clippers (5-15), Kawhi Leonard led with 30 points and eight rebounds, while James Harden had 29 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. Ivica Zubac contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, and John Collins scored 21. Los Angeles, ranking 26th defensively, has lost four straight and seven consecutive home games at Intuit Dome. Dallas (6-15) capitalized on 18 Clippers turnovers for 20 points.
This marks Flagg's second consecutive historic outing, following 11 assists against the Lakers—the most by an 18-year-old. Over his last five games, Flagg averages over 20 points on 48.1% shooting, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, positioning him as a contender for Rookie of the Year against former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, who leads rookies at 18.4 points per game. Note: Some reports list the final score as 114-100, but detailed accounts confirm 114-110.
