Overview
- The injury occurred when Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith fouled Cooper Flagg from behind on a breakaway late in the second quarter, and Flagg left the game without returning for the second half.
- An MRI disclosed a mild sprain of Flagg’s left shoulder and the Mavericks officially listed him out for the Oct. 24 home game against the San Antonio Spurs.
- Officials assessed Nesmith a Flagrant 1 on the play and a brief on-court confrontation produced double technicals to Nesmith and Naji Marshall.
- Medical experts and team statements say the club will re-evaluate Flagg next week and have not set a return date because AC-joint sprains can heal in days or take several weeks depending on severity.
- Flagg’s absence removes a primary scorer and playmaker for Dallas and, combined with Kyrie Irving’s knee management, forces coach Dusty May to lean on role players while monitoring Flagg’s recovery and the team’s upcoming schedule.