Cooper Flagg accomplished an important feat of his young NBA career following the Dallas Mavericks' 139-129 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night.
In 29 minutes of action, Flagg had a solid performance with his time on the court. He finished with a stat line of 22 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a block. He shot 8-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
His efforts helped the Mavericks earn their first win of the season at home. Not only that, but the rookie forward also obtained the first victory of his career, a positive sign of things to come for the ex-Duke star.
How Cooper Flagg, Mavericks played against Raptors
It was a great win for Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks to earn over the Raptors, bouncing back from their previous losses to the San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards.
The game was close throughout the first half, seeing the Raptors only up 66-64 at halftime. It took until the third quarter for the Mavericks to take over, outscoring their visitors 39-25 throughout those 12 minutes. That period proved to create the distance Dallas needed, coasting to victory down the stretch.
Shot selection and free throws made the difference in this matchup. The Mavericks prevailed in both categories, making 58.8% of their total shots while converting 29 shots at the line. It was similar for the Raptors but to a lesser extent, knocking down 49% of their total field-goal attempts while making 18 free throws.
Seven players scored in double-digits for Dallas, including Flagg. Anthony Davis showcased another impressive outing with 25 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. He shot 11-of-14 overall and 3-of-8 from the charity stripe. D'Angelo Russell came next with 24 points and six assists, PJ Washington had 17 points and seven rebounds, Max Christie put up 17 points and two assists, while Naji Marshall provided 12 points and six rebounds. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson contributed with 10 points and four rebounds.
The Mavericks will look forward to their next matchup, remaining at home. They host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
