ESPN.com · Dec 24, 2025
Cooper Flagg leads Mavs over Nuggets, draws praise from Jokic
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DALLAS -- Cooper Flagg offered a simple, if sarcastic, explanation for the best long-range shooting performance of his spectacular rookie season in the Dallas Mavericks' 131-130 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.
"I had my birthday," Flagg said after scoring 33 points on 14-of-21 shooting, including a season-high four 3s. "I'm 19. I've only missed like one 3 since I turned 19."
Flagg is actually 5-of-7 from 3-point range in the two games since the league's youngest player turned 19 on Sunday. It's a sudden improvement of the one significant flaw in Flagg's game, as he shot only 23.4% from 3-point range in 28 NBA games as an 18-year-old.