Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mavericks Announce Cooper Flagg News on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jan 15, 2026 7:10 PM ET

Cooper Flagg suffered an injury in the Dallas Mavericks’ 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. The 19-year-old was forced to leave the game in the second quarter due to an ankle injury. Flagg hobbled to the locker room and was followed by the team’s medical staff.

The Mavs rookie returned to the bench shortly after his trip to the locker room. However, he was unable to check back into the game. The team later announced that Flagg had been ruled out for the remainder of the contest due to a left ankle sprain.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd confirmed to reporters after the game that Flagg had tweaked his left ankle. The former Duke Blue Devils star’s status for Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz was uncertain.

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32)© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Wednesday’s loss marked the Mavs’ second loss in three games. They dropped to 15-26 and, as of writing, are 12th in the Western Conference.

Flagg has missed just one game for Dallas this season. In 40 appearances in his rookie year, the 6-foot-9 small forward has averaged 18.8 points on 47.8% shooting, 6.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 three-pointers in 34.1 minutes per game.

Flagg will miss the second game of his NBA career on Thursday. This is after the Mavs announced that the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft has been ruled out against the Jazz due to a left ankle sprain.

Mavs Status Update vs. UTA (1/2):

Moussa Cisse (G League/Two-Way) - AVAILABLE
Miles Kelly (G League/Two-Way) - AVAILABLE
Max Christie (illness) - OUT
Anthony Davis (left finger sprain) - OUT
Dante Exum (right knee surgery) - OUT
Cooper Flagg (left ankle sprain) - OUT
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 15, 2026

Daniel Gafford, who also sprained his ankle against the Nuggets on Wednesday, has also been ruled out for the Jazz game. P.J. Washington Jr. and Max Christie are both unavailable as well, while Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum and Dereck Lively II remain sidelined with significant injuries.

Kidd told reporters on Wednesday that Flagg also tweaked his ankle in Dallas’ win against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. The rookie injured the ankle again in the Nuggets game, and it will now cost him at least one game on the shelf.

Flagg’s next chance to play will be on Saturday in a rematch against the Jazz.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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