Will Cooper Flagg play against the Utah Jazz today? Injury update

Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg saw his promising night end early on Wednesday as the Mavericks slumped a 118-109 home defeat to the Denver Nuggets.

In the second quarter, the No.1 overall pick twisted his left ankle while defending a challenge from Peyton Watson. He limped off the court and, after briefly returning before half-time, was ruled out for the rest of the contest.

“He stepped on someone’s foot and so I think last game he twisted his ankle, too,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd told reporters after the game. “So they decided to hold him for the second half.”

Cooper Flagg injury status vs Utah Jazz

The injury comes at a difficult time for the Mavericks, who have been coping with a string of significant absences. Before Flagg’s exit, Dallas were already dealing with the absences of Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II, among others. Fresh concerns over centre Daniel Gafford’s right ankle only added to the team’s woes in what became an uphill night against a solid Denver squad.

Flagg’s status for the game against the Utah Jazz is listed as doubtful.

Prior to the injury, Flagg had been averaging strong numbers and living up to expectations as one of the league’s most promising young talents. Across a total of 40 games he had averaged 19.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest.

Without their leading offensive talent, the Mavs struggled to keep pace with Denver’s scoring: Jamal Murray spearheaded the Nuggets’ attack with 33 points, while Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson made key plays to put their opponents to the sword.

Related stories

NBA

Rumours of Kuminga departure heat up as player “demands trade away”

NBA

Harden opens up on Clippers’ confidence after another win

At the time of writing, the Mavs sit in 12th in the Western Conference standings, with a 15-26 record. They have lost 7 of their last 10 games and Flagg’s time away from the court, which has not been confirmed, will only prolong their pain.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.