Cooper Flagg led the Dallas Mavericks with a season-high 26 points in Monday’s 116-114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I didn’t feel anything forced tonight. I felt more comfortable out there and just letting things happen,” Flagg said after the game.
Flagg played through a minor thumb sprain sustained in a previous matchup. “It’s obviously a little painful, but nothing crazy. I was able to play through it tonight,” he added.
Facing Giannis Antetokounmpo for the first time, Flagg described the experience as a challenge. “He’s a dominant force. We threw two guys at him in the post, and somehow he still finds a way to get to the basket,” Flagg said.
He reflected on a late-game spin move against Milwaukee. “The first thing I thought was I’m going to dunk on him, but he’s huge and strong, so I just made the read and challenged him at the rim,” Flagg explained.
Flagg acknowledged learning from late-game situations. “I felt contact on the inbound play with Kuzma. It’s a learning moment. I’ve got to know there’s going to be contact and play through it,” he said.
The young forward emphasized staying confident despite the team’s struggles. “You just have to clear it and keep working, trusting the reps and the work, and keep showing up,” Flagg said regarding handling losses.
He also discussed adjusting to different roles in the Mavericks’ offense. “We’re getting comfortable day by day. Tonight, we felt more organized, and I felt more comfortable letting the game come to me,” Flagg noted.
On half-court strategies, Flagg highlighted the importance of reading defenses. “There’s a lot of physicality, and it’s about knowing your scouting report and reading the defense at a high level,” he said.
Flagg’s performance showed promise despite the narrow defeat. Dallas played without Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II, which limited rotation depth. Brandon Williams contributed 19 points in his first start, but Ryan Rollins’ late layup gave Milwaukee the win.
The Mavericks, now 3-8, return home to face Phoenix on Wednesday, while the Bucks, improving to 7-4, head to Charlotte for the first of back-to-back games against the Hornets.
