dailyloe.com – Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg made NBA history on Friday night. The 19-year-old scored 51 points in a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic. He is the first teenager ever to score 50 points in an NBA game.
The historic performance came after a controversial no-call on a foul. Coach Jason Kidd and forward Naji Marshall were both ejected arguing the play. Their ejections occurred in the third quarter of the game.
Flagg scored 24 of his points in the fourth quarter alone. He shot an efficient 19-for-30 from the field. He also made all seven of his free throw attempts.
The rookie’s previous career high was 49 points against Charlotte. That game occurred on January 29th of this season. He surpassed that mark with his performance against Orlando.
Assistant coach Frank Vogel managed the game after Kidd’s ejection. Vogel briefly rested Flagg late in the fourth quarter. He then called a timeout to re-insert him with 3:22 remaining.
Flagg made the historic basket just over a minute later. He expressed gratitude for his coach and teammate’s support. Their defense of him provided extra motivation during the game.
The loss drops the Mavericks’ record for the season. Despite the loss, Flagg’s individual achievement stands as a league milestone. His performance sets a new benchmark for teenage players in the NBA.[]
Source: NBA
