The Dallas Mavericks stumbled out of the gate this season, dropping 15 of their first 20 games. But over the past week, the team has finally found some rhythm, securing its first back-to-back wins with a thrilling 131–121 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg once again delivered an impressive performance, continuing what has been a standout debut season, and earning high praise from Nuggets head coach David Adelman in the lead-up to the matchup.
David Adelman Praises Cooper Flagg’s Poise and Work Ethic
Flagg played a starring role in the Mavericks’ 114–110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, scoring 35 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and adding two assists. At 18 years and 343 days old, he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 35 points in a game, surpassing a record previously held by LeBron James.
Heading into Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, Nuggets head coach David Adelman was asked about his first impression of Flagg, and he had nothing but praise for the rookie phenom.
“I mean, what we thought he’d be,” he said. “Probably the expectations were way too high and then they have the injuries and to have the ball in your hands immediately, was probably not the plan. Not to mention with Kyrie (Irving) being out.”
When Flagg was selected with the first pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, many wondered what his first season with the Mavericks would look like. At the time, fans had hoped for both Irving and Anthony Davis to be on the court alongside Flagg, something that has yet to occur due to injuries.
“I can’t imagine how good he’s going to be when he plays with a full and healthy team,” Adelman added. “I think their team is extremely underrated when healthy. I think they’re going to be one of the better defensive teams in our league. When you have Kyrie who can score like he does and Cooper can be this multifaceted player he already is at 18 years old. The future is so bright for him.”
“The thing I like the most about him is…he just plays so hard. He competes every night. In this league, you can’t teach that part. The skill part and learning the league will come to him as he plays, but his future is extremely bright.”
While Irving is unlikely to return this season, Davis is now back on the floor, and the Mavericks are starting to see the results Adelman anticipated. Davis erupted for 32 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists on Monday, while Ryan Nembhard added 28 points and 10 assists.
Dallas trio combines for 84 POINTS in road victory!
Anthony Davis: 32 PTS, 13 REB
Ryan Nembhard: 28 PTS, 10 AST
Cooper Flagg: 24 PTS, 8 REB pic.twitter.com/sNiMXQlhax— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2025
Flagg himself continued his strong play, scoring 24 points, eight rebounds, and two assists to help Dallas secure a 131–121 victory. The win improved the Mavericks to 7–15, placing them 12th in the Western Conference. Dallas will next face the Miami Heat at home on Wednesday night.