The Dallas Mavericks’ January 14, 2026, showdown against the Denver Nuggets was supposed to be another opportunity for rookie sensation Cooper Flagg to showcase his skills. Instead, it became a night of concern and uncertainty for Mavericks fans, as Flagg’s left ankle injury cast a shadow over the team’s 118-109 home loss and raised questions about the rookie’s immediate future.
Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and a frontrunner for the Kia Rookie of the Year award, has been a beacon of hope for Dallas in a season marred by injuries. Averaging 19.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists through 39 games, Flagg’s impact was felt on both ends of the floor. But with 6:01 remaining in the second quarter against Denver, the American Airlines Center crowd fell silent as Flagg rolled his left ankle while defending Peyton Watson. The rookie immediately showed visible discomfort, grabbing his foot before limping off the court and heading straight to the locker room.
“He stepped on someone’s foot,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd explained after the game, according to DLLS Sports’ Ron Harrod Jr. “Last game, he twisted his ankle, too. We decided to hold him (out) for the second half.”
The injury occurred just two days after Flagg had tweaked the same ankle during Dallas’ 113-105 victory over Brooklyn on January 12. In that game, Flagg briefly exited but returned and led the Mavericks with 27 points. His resilience Monday gave hope that Wednesday’s scare might be short-lived. Indeed, after spending several minutes in the locker room, Flagg returned to the court for the final 2:35 before halftime, much to the relief of fans and teammates alike.
But Flagg’s return was brief. As the second half began, he was nowhere to be seen on the Mavericks’ bench. The team soon announced that he would not return, officially ruling him out for the rest of the contest with a left ankle sprain. He finished the night with six points on 3-for-9 shooting, one rebound, and one assist in 15 minutes of play.
Flagg’s absence was immediately felt. The Mavericks, already trailing 63-46 at halftime, struggled to keep pace with the Nuggets. With Flagg sidelined, Ryan Nembhard took his spot in the rotation, while veterans Klay Thompson and Caleb Martin were expected to shoulder more of the offensive and defensive load down the stretch. The team was also without center Daniel Gafford, who exited in the second half with a right ankle sprain—a nagging injury that has bothered him for much of the season.
“This is a hard time for us,” Kidd admitted. “We have had a lot of injuries. … We have been hurt since day one of training camp. This is the norm. The character has been displayed in tough times of being down. But we keep fighting.”
The Mavericks’ frontcourt depth has been tested all season. Ten-time All-Star Anthony Davis remains sidelined with ligament damage in his left hand and is expected to miss about six weeks. Promising young center Dereck Lively II is out for the season following foot surgery. With Kyrie Irving also in and out of the lineup, Flagg has been forced to carry a heavy load, making his health all the more crucial to Dallas’ playoff hopes.
The timing of Flagg’s injury couldn’t be worse. The Mavericks are in the thick of a grueling stretch, with a back-to-back looming against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Kidd told reporters he was unsure if Flagg—or Gafford—would be available for that contest. Flagg was not available for comment after the game, leaving fans, coaches, and teammates anxiously awaiting further updates.
Flagg’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. After a dominant lone season at Duke, where he led the Blue Devils to the Final Four and earned Associated Press men’s player of the year honors, he made the leap to the NBA with sky-high expectations. Through his first 40 games—three more than his entire collegiate campaign—Flagg had missed just one contest (due to illness in November) and had quickly established himself as one of the league’s brightest young stars.
His poise under pressure and ability to bounce back from adversity have already become hallmarks of his game. Wednesday’s sequence—rolling his ankle, limping off, and then returning to finish the half—was a testament to his toughness and commitment to the team. Even so, the Mavericks’ decision to err on the side of caution was understandable, given Flagg’s importance and the team’s precarious injury situation.
“His performance is vital for the team’s aspirations in the campaign ahead,” noted one analyst. The Mavericks will monitor Flagg’s condition closely, with hopes for a full and speedy recovery.
For Dallas, the loss to Denver was just the latest in a series of setbacks. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s the resilience the team has shown in the face of adversity. Players like Ryan Nembhard and Klay Thompson have stepped up when called upon, and the Mavericks’ next-man-up mentality has kept them competitive in a tough Western Conference.
Still, all eyes remain on Flagg. His health could very well determine the trajectory of the Mavericks’ season. As Kidd put it, “The character has been displayed in tough times of being down. But we keep fighting.”
With the Mavericks set to face Utah in less than 24 hours, the status of their star rookie is the burning question. Dallas fans—and the NBA at large—will be watching closely for updates, hoping that Flagg’s latest setback is a minor bump in what promises to be a stellar career.
For now, the Mavericks must regroup and prepare for their next challenge, knowing that their fortunes may hinge on the quick recovery of their remarkable rookie sensation.
