The Dallas Mavericks visit Crypto.com Arena on Thursday night to face the Los Angeles Lakers, with both teams looking to enter the NBA All-Star break on a winning note. But they will be without forward Cooper Flagg.
This means the Mavericks will not be at full strength when they take the court.
What’s Wrong With Mavericks F Cooper Flagg?
On Thursday, before the game, the Mavericks announced that rookie forward Cooper Flagg would not play against the Lakers. The team’s public relations department released an update on Flagg’s health in a post on X.
“The Mavericks announced today that forward/guard Cooper Flagg underwent an MRI that revealed a left midfoot sprain,” according to the Mavs PR’s account on X. “The injury occurred in Dallas’ game at PHX on Tuesday. Flagg will miss the team’s game at LAL on Thursday as well as the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game on Friday.”
The Mavericks announced today that forward/guard Cooper Flagg underwent an MRI that revealed a left midfoot sprain.
The injury occurred in Dallas’ game at PHX on Tuesday. Flagg will miss the team’s game at LAL on Thursday as well as the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game on Friday.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) February 12, 2026
For the 2025-26 season, Flagg is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 48.2%. He was the No. 1 overall draft pick out of Duke by the Mavericks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Dallas enters Thursday night’s game against the Lakers on a five-game losing streak. The Mavericks’ most recent defeat came Tuesday, when they fell to the Phoenix Suns 120-111. Flagg scored 27 points in that game. In his previous four outings, he scored 14, 32, 36, and 34 points.
The Mavericks have been trying to regroup after last season’s blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. At this season’s trade deadline, Davis was dealt to the Washington Wizards along with D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum.
Flagg has been a regular on highlight reels during his rookie campaign, and the Mavericks appear intent on building around him for the future. But Lakers fans will not see him play Thursday, and his injury means NBA All-Star Weekend fans will miss him as well.
Aside from Flagg, the Mavericks will also be missing Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II, while Caleb Martin, Ryan Nembhard, and Moussa Cisse are listed as doubtful.
For the Lakers, former Mavericks star Luka Dončić remains sidelined with a left hamstring strain, and Deandre Ayton is out with right knee soreness.
