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Cooper Flagg turns heads with a historic James Harden accomplishment
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Cooper Flagg returned to action on Monday and pulled off a rare NBA accomplishment in helping the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Miami Heat.

The No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft paced the Mavs with 29 points on 12/23 shooting from the field, while adding 11 assists, six rebounds, five steals and three blocks in a 113-109 win over Giannis Antetokounmpo and company at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Flagg became just the second player since the 1973-74 season to post that kind of stat line, with James Harden as the other.

Flagg missed last Saturday’s game against the Spurs with a shoulder injury, but looked completely over that upper-body issue with the way he performed versus the Heat.

The 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year has always shown he can contribute across the board, and his statistical masterpiece against the Heat was just another example.

Through three games this season, the former Duke Blue Devils star has averages of 25.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 3.7 steals and 1.7 blocks, while shooting 56.5% from the field.

The 2-2 Mavericks are in for a tough matchup next, with the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder visiting them for a game on Wednesday at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

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