Cooper Flagg makes NBA history in Mavericks’ loss

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg etched his title within the NBA historical past books Monday evening regardless of an additional time loss to the Utah Jazz.

Flagg scored 42 factors in a 140-133 loss. He scored essentially the most factors by an 18-year-old in NBA historical past, surpassing the earlier mark set by LeBron James on December 13, 2003, when he was a rookie with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Nonetheless, the loss weighed extra closely on him.

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Dallas Mavericks ahead Cooper Flagg (32) drives to the basket, guarded by Utah Jazz ahead Kyle Anderson (2) throughout the first half of an NBA basketball recreation, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Salt Lake Metropolis. (AP Photograph/Tyler Tate)

“Clearly we did not win. So it is onerous for me to need to be pleased or something like that, however clearly it is a success,” Flagg mentioned.

He additionally grew to become the fifth rookie to document a minimum of 40 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists prior to now fifteen years. He completed with seven rebounds and 6 assists.

“It is come a great distance for the reason that begin of the season, so I am happy with that fourth quarter,” Flagg mentioned. “It is a new recreation… however I am getting increasingly more snug… and I am simply used to, actually, simply being myself and letting the sport come to me.”

Dallas Mavericks ahead Cooper Flagg, proper, seems to cross the ball whereas being guarded by Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier, left, throughout the first half of an NBA basketball recreation, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Salt Lake Metropolis. (AP Photograph/Tyler Tate)

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Flagg additionally made historical past in November when he grew to become the youngest participant in NBA historical past to attain a minimum of 35 factors.

In the end, the Mavericks are 10-17 and in twelfth place within the Western Convention. For Flagg, the information are good, however he does not intend to do it with dropping efforts.

“I am probably not targeted on a whole lot of that stuff (the information). I am extra targeted on being there, daily, and making an attempt to get higher and get our workforce as many wins as potential,” he mentioned.

Utah is 10-15 on the season and tenth within the convention standings.

Dallas Mavericks ahead Cooper Flagg, middle, shoots over Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, proper, throughout the first half of an NBA basketball recreation, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Salt Lake Metropolis. (AP Photograph/Tyler Tate)

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Keyonte George led the Jazz with 37 factors and made 5 3-pointers. Lauri Markkanen added 33 factors and 16 rebounds.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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