Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg exited Friday night’s 121-105 win against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after injuring his left shoulder on a second-quarter transition dunk attempt that triggered a flagrant foul and a heated on-court scuffle.
Cooper Flagg Exits With Left Shoulder Soreness After Flagrant Foul
The forward had compiled 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists in just 17 minutes before exiting the game late in the second quarter. Flagg rose for a fast-break dunk when Indiana guard Aaron Nesmith challenged the play from behind, sending the 19-year-old crashing awkwardly and clutching his left shoulder.
Cooper Flagg (left shoulder soreness) will not return to tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers.
Officials reviewed the play and assessed Nesmith a flagrant 1 foul for unnecessary contact. The hard collision instantly ignited tensions on the floor. Naji Marshall sprinted to confront Nesmith, starting a brief shoving match between players from both teams. Both Nesmith and Marshall received technical fouls during the altercation.
Flagg stayed on the court long enough to take and make two free throws before heading to the locker room. The Mavericks later ruled him out for the remainder of the contest due to left shoulder soreness. Because Flagg injured the same shoulder during his rookie season, the early exit created immediate concern among fans tracking his development as Dallas’s cornerstone.
Pacers fall at home to the Mavs 121-105, but it wasn't close. They trailed by as many as 37pts in 1H. Siakam scored 23. Good juice from Slawson.Irving had 24pts before fouling out, Flagg (14-5-6) DNP in the 2H. Dusty May gets first NBA win back home.Next: Sun. at BKN
Dusty May Earns First NBA Victory as Mavericks Overwhelm Pacers
Even with their forward sidelined for the entire second half, the Mavericks cruised to a 121-105 victory that handed head coach Dusty May his first regular-season win in the NBA. Players celebrated the milestone by drenching May.
We try to get these guys to not think about themselves quite as much. This isn’t about me. It was about our group coming in here and figuring out a way to be better and competing like crazy.
May said after the game.
Dallas established control early by mounting a 22-6 run that built a 42-23 lead in the first quarter. The visitors extended their dominance in the second period with a 15-0 run, swelling their advantage to 37 points before heading into halftime up 77-43. The Mavericks capitalized on 13 first-half turnovers by Indiana, converting them into 22 points.
Tyrese Haliburton Home Return Spoiled by Dallas Defense
The matchup marked Tyrese Haliburton’s first home game in Indianapolis since the 2025 NBA Finals. A sea-of-gold crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse delivered a roaring ovation during player introductions.
I’ve been covering games in this building for the last 12 years, and I think the roar for Haliburton at half court was the loudest I’ve ever heard it. That includes NBA Finals games, his introduction at the All-Star Game here in town, and other huge moments.
Tyler Smith
Despite the celebratory atmosphere, the Pacers struggled to generate offense against active Dallas defense. Indiana shot just 7-for-32 from beyond the arc. Haliburton finished the night with 18 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while teammate Pascal Siakam helped pull Nesmith out of a tussle, but the early deficit proved insurmountable.
Indiana mounted a third-quarter push, winning the period 33-21 and trimming the deficit to 19 points, but Dallas answered through Kyrie Irving, who scored 24 points and hit five three-pointers to secure the win.
The Mavericks say Cooper Flagg (left shoulder) will NOT return in the second half tonight at Indiana.Flagg did not start the second half after racking up 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and three blocks in helping Dallas build a 77-43 first-half lead at Indiana.
Mavericks Evaluate Flagg as Pacers Prepare to Face Brooklyn
The immediate priority for Dallas centers on Flagg’s health. May noted that the forward will be evaluated over the coming days, leaving his availability uncertain for the team’s home opener against the San Antonio Spurs. The Mavericks hold a 1-1 record on the young season.
| Team | Record | Next Game | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | 1-1 | October 24, 2026 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Indiana Pacers | 1-1 | October 25, 2026 | Brooklyn Nets |
The Pacers travel to face the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, October 25, looking to rebound to 2-1. Meanwhile, Dallas and Indiana are scheduled to meet again on November 9 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
More on Cooper Flagg
Mavericks star Kyrie Irving on what Cooper Flagg’s teammates standing up for him after Aaron Nesmith’s hard foul says about the locker room:“We’ve got to set an example for every single one of us, especially Coop, our youngest guy on the team. We gotta protect him, and when we… pic.twitter.com/MJxJujTKhu