Cooper Flagg Available As Dallas Mavericks Face Miami Heat After Shoulder Sprain Absence
MIAMI — Cooper Flagg is available for the Dallas Mavericks against the Miami Heat, three days after he sprained his left shoulder at Indiana. Dallas had upgraded the second-year forward from questionable to probable earlier in the day after he went through the team’s morning shootaround.
Flagg had not played since the first half of Friday’s 121-105 win over the Indiana Pacers.
“Cooper is using the warmup to gauge whether he’s ready to go,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said before the game. “So we’ll see. It’s a true game-time decision. But I expect him to play. I’m expecting that, but it’s not for sure.”
Dallas has played rookie Morez Johnson Jr. under a minutes restriction in all three of its games this season.
“Not that we’ve discussed yet,” May said of a possible restriction for Flagg. “We’re gonna wait and make sure he plays, and then step two after step one.”
Cooper Flagg Missed One Game With Mild Left Shoulder Sprain
Flagg had 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals in 17 minutes at Indiana. He went to the locker room after Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith was called for a flagrant foul on Flagg’s breakaway. He did not return for the second half.
On Saturday, the Mavericks announced that an MRI showed a mild left shoulder sprain and that Flagg would be re-evaluated this week. He sat out that night’s 122-106 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the second game of a back-to-back. Dallas was also without Kyrie Irving that night for left knee injury management.
Through two games, Flagg is averaging 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 60.9% from the field. He opened the season with 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting and went 11-of-13 at the free-throw line at the Houston Rockets on Oct. 21. No teenager in NBA history had scored more in a season opener.
Last season, Flagg won Rookie of the Year after leading all rookies at 21.0 points per game. He led the Mavericks in total points (1,473), rebounds (466), assists (316), and steals (84).
In Dallas’ last meeting with Miami, a 118-108 win at American Airlines Center on Dec. 3, 2025, Flagg had a team-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. The Mavericks are 39-40 all-time against the Heat, including 18-22 on the road.
Naji Marshall Out, Kyrie Irving Available For Mavericks In Miami
Naji Marshall is out with an illness. He started Saturday against San Antonio and had 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in 20:55, but he did not return after checking out with 8:28 left in the third quarter.
Irving will return and was not listed on the injury report after sitting out the San Antonio game. He scored 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, in Friday’s win at Indiana. He had 15 points in the opener at Houston.
Caleb Martin was listed as doubtful with a right thumb sprain before being ruled out. Santi Aldama (right knee surgery), Tarik Biberović (right heel bursitis), and Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) are out.
Miami is 0-3 after home losses to Minnesota and Detroit and a 115-110 loss at Charlotte on Saturday. Giannis Antetokounmpo, acquired by the Heat from Milwaukee on July 6, is averaging 28.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
Tip-off at Kaseya Center is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on NBA TV and KFAA. The Mavericks return home to host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
