Cooper Flagg became the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game on Friday. However, this performance was not enough to help the Dallas Mavericks secure their first home win since January 22.
The 19-year-old rookie scored 51 points on 19-of-30 shooting and had just one turnover, but the Mavericks lost to the Orlando Magic, 138-127. This marks the Mavericks’ 14th consecutive loss at home, leaving them with a record of 5-27 over the past 10 weeks.
Cooper Flagg’s Impressive Stats but No Wins
Flagg is having an impressive rookie season, but his outside shooting has been inconsistent. Before Friday’s game, he was shooting 27.8 percent from three-point range, but he improved to 6-of-9 behind the arc in this game, exceeding his previous career high of four three-pointers.
Despite his strong performances, Flagg has often found himself on the losing side. He scored 49 points against the Charlotte Hornets on January 29, but the Mavericks lost 123-121. He narrowly missed a triple-double against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 21 and added 32 points and nine assists against the Golden State Warriors on March 23, with both games ending in overtime losses.
Flagg is a key reason why Mavericks fans are still engaged during a tough season, but the team struggles to win at home. Fans can expect to see impressive displays from their potential future star, even if those performances don’t lead to victories.