Dallas Mavericks phenom forward Cooper Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, suffered a left shoulder injury after a flagrant foul on a breakaway dunk attempt sent him tumbling to the court.
The injury came during the Friday, Oct. 23 game in Indianapolis after Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith fouled Flagg, who was streaking toward the basket on a fast break. Flagg tried to brace his fall but landed awkwardly on the court, near where camera operators sit along the baseline.
Flagg immediately favored his shoulder as he writhed on the floor in apparent discomfort. The foul incensed Mavericks players, as forward Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith and shoved him.
This led to a brief altercation as multiple players from both sides started shoving
each other. Assistant coaches eventually separated the players.
PACERS-MAVS GET CHIPPY AFTER
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 24, 2026
A FLAGRANT FOUL ON COOPER FLAGG 😳
Flagg went to the locker room after the hard foul pic.twitter.com/pQjg9P61KK
The foul was eventually reviewed and elevated to a flagrant 1. Shortly afterward, the Mavericks ruled Flagg out for the rest of the game.
Flagg played just 17 minutes and scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He also collected 5 rebounds, dished out 6 assists and recorded 3 steals.
The Mavericks picked up the road win, defeating the Pacers 121-105 in Indiana's home opener. Each team stands at 1-1. The Mavericks lost at Houston two nights ago, while the Pacers earned a road win in New Orleans to start the 2026-27 NBA season.
Flagg is the franchise player and No. 1 selection from the 2025 NBA Draft. Dallas is undergoing something of a rebuild, as the team builds around the 19 year old Flagg.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cooper Flagg injury update: Mavs star hurts shoulder as he's fouled on breakaway
