‘You’ve Got To Trust Each Other’: Cooper Flagg’s Career Night Ends In Heartbreak As Dallas Mavericks Fall Late To Milwaukee Bucks

Grant AfsethNovember 11, 2025November 11, 2025no comment

Photo by Nick White/DallasHoopsJournal.com

Cooper Flagg showed flashes of everything the Dallas Mavericks hoped for when they made him the No. 1 pick. What they didn’t get — again — was the result they needed.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, and Ryan Rollins’ driving layup with 17.9 seconds left lifted the Milwaukee Bucks to a 116–114 win over the Mavericks on Monday night at American Airlines Center.

Kyle Kuzma added a season-high 26 points off the bench, including a clinching dunk with 14 seconds left after stealing a Dallas inbound pass intended for Flagg, who slipped just beyond the 3-point line.

P.J. Washington was fouled on a desperation 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left and made the first of three free throws, but his intentional miss on the final attempt was secured by Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis Jr. as the Mavericks fell to 3–8 on the season.

Cooper Flagg’s Fearless Night Showed His Potential

Flagg led Dallas with a career-high 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. It marked his first time leading the Mavericks in points, rebounds, and assists in the same game.

His late-game fearlessness stood out most. With Dallas trailing 113–112, the 18-year-old rookie spun to his right, attacked Antetokounmpo, and finished a contested layup through contact to give the Mavericks a one-point lead with 35 seconds left.

“He was really good down the stretch,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He was good during the game. I thought he did a nice job finding teammates and also taking advantage of scoring opportunities. He plays to win. No matter who’s in front of him, he’s going to challenge. Giannis had some blocks early, and you’re going to win some and lose some. But that was a big-time play for us to go up. Unfortunately, we couldn’t capitalize on that last play with the turnover.”

Flagg said his mindset on that drive was simple.

“The first thing that went across my mind was, ‘I’m going to dunk on him,’” Flagg said. “But it wasn’t going to happen. He’s huge, really strong. Just made a read. Challenged him at the rim — you have to challenge these guys, and I made the play.”

Moments later, he learned how unforgiving late-game execution can be in the NBA. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Flagg slipped to the floor while jockeying for position as Washington threw the ball in — leading to Kuzma’s game-clinching steal and dunk.

“I thought so,” Flagg said when asked if there was contact. “That’s why I fell over — felt like he grabbed me. But it’s a learning moment. I haven’t been in these moments a ton yet. It’s something I can learn from. The refs don’t want to blow the whistle that late in the game. They don’t want to decide it. So I got to know there’s going to be contact and be physical. Just got to play through it and go get the ball by any means.”

Flagg admitted the losing streak has tested him in ways he’s never experienced.

“It’s tough,” he said. “In high school and college, bad games are easier to shake off when your team wins. Now, you just have to clear it and move on. I know I haven’t always played to my standard, but all I can do is keep working, stay confident, and trust the reps.”

Jason Kidd Sees Parallels Between Cooper Flagg and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Early Development

After the game, Kidd reflected on familiar territory. Eleven years ago in Milwaukee, he was overseeing the same kind of experiment — handing ball-handling responsibilities to a lanky, raw, freakishly athletic 19-year-old named Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“It took steps. It didn’t start off well,” Kidd recalled earlier Monday. “But something about Giannis is his work ethic. He’s going to keep working on his craft. After the All-Star break, we came back with that idea and he ran with it.”

For Kidd, Flagg represents a similar long-term bet. The Mavericks have played him across multiple positions — from small forward to point guard — asking him to create in ways that stretch his comfort zone.

“Cooper’s playing the game the right way,” Kidd said. “He’s trying to make the right plays. I wouldn’t compare the two — skill sets are a little different — but they’re similar in learning that position and being able to see the floor. Both can do that at a high level.”

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said it’s a fascinating developmental experiment — one that reminds him of when he coached Ben Simmons in Philadelphia.

“He’s an anomaly, man,” Rivers said of Flagg. “That’s what he’s going to be. I don’t think you’ll ever put him in a category. Guys with that much athleticism, that much competitiveness, and that willingness to learn — they never fail.”

Dallas Plays Its Most Energetic Game of the Season

Despite the loss, Dallas delivered its most complete game of the season. The Mavericks out-rebounded Milwaukee 52–45 — setting a new season high and marking back-to-back 50-rebound games for the first time since January 2024. They also dominated the fast break 31–6 and showed sharper ball movement throughout the night.

Kidd said the Mavericks’ pace and energy were vital to keeping the Bucks off balance.

“We were playing fast, and that’s something you have to do against Milwaukee,” Kidd said. “They’re good defensively in the half court, but I thought our pace and the ability to convert turnovers into points were big tonight.”

Brandon Williams, making his first start of the season, finished with 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists while going 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.

“It was a good performance for sure,” Williams said. “I thought I could’ve made more shots and more plays for my teammates, but when you don’t get the win, it doesn’t really matter.”

He learned just before tip-off that he’d be starting.

“Right before the game,” Williams said. “They just told me to keep doing what I’ve been doing — get in the paint, make the right play, and stay organized. A little bit of everything — getting in the paint, knocking down open shots, taking care of the ball. I had four turnovers tonight, including a costly one in the fourth, so I’ve got to clean that up.”

Williams also credited Flagg for staying poised late.

“I’ve got all faith in Coop,” he said. “He’s young but physically gifted and athletic. He’s already seen a lot of coverages at 18 years old. I’ve got the utmost confidence he’s going to make a great play in those moments.”

Max Christie added 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and tied his career high with three blocks — his ninth straight double-digit scoring game and longest such streak as a Maverick.

“His speed, energy, and vibe are all positive,” Kidd said of reserve center Moussa Cissé, who logged key minutes. “He sprints every possession and competes on defense. Guys feed off that. He creates threes for us just by sprinting. We’re light on bigs right now, and he’s done an incredible job.”

Even with improved rhythm, the Mavericks again struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 9-of-39 (23.1%).

“We had great looks,” Kidd said. “We’ve got to keep shooting them. I don’t think we’ve shot the three ball well all year, but if we keep creating those looks, they’ll start falling. Right now, we’ve got a cold.”

“I think every game is about trust and compete — win or lose,” Kidd added. “I think we’re building that trust and competing. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way, but you’ve got to trust each other and keep fighting.”

“Fire Nico” Chants Echo in the Fourth

As the game wound down, chants of “Fire Nico” rang through the lower bowl of American Airlines Center during Mavericks free throw attempts, directed at general manager Nico Harrison.

Kidd downplayed the noise postgame.

“That’s a good question — you have to ask them that,” Kidd said when asked if the chants impacted players. “They’re playing. I think it’s just noise. We put ourselves in position to win tonight.”

Williams said the team tried to block out the distractions.

“It’s unfortunate, but we’ve got to play through it,” he said.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Finishes Strong as Milwaukee Bucks Rally

Milwaukee’s star ultimately proved too much to handle. Antetokounmpo, who entered the night averaging 33.8 points per game, was quiet early but scored 15 in the final period, finishing with 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The performance marked his 301st career 30-point game — the 17th most in NBA history.

After Rollins’ go-ahead basket, the Mavericks still had a chance to tie. Washington was fouled on a desperation 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left, but his intentional miss on the third free throw was corralled by Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis Jr., ending Dallas’ comeback bid.

“Sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way,” Kidd said. “But you’ve got to trust each other and keep fighting.”

Short-Handed Dallas Mavericks Still Showing Progress

Dallas continues to fight through significant absences. Anthony Davis (left calf strain) missed his sixth straight game, while Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) sat out his eighth. Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) and Danté Exum (right knee management) also remain sidelined.

Kidd said Davis’ recovery is trending upward.

“He was on the floor today, and he’s making progress,” Kidd said. “So we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

Despite being shorthanded, the Mavericks set season highs in rebounds and transition points while showing improved chemistry and energy.

“We’re getting comfortable by the day as a whole and that’s something that will be huge for us,” Flagg said. “Tonight, for a lot of us, we felt more comfortable, more organized. I didn’t feel anything forced tonight. As a team, we did a better job of being organized and getting where we wanted to get to.”

Dallas will continue its homestand Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns. Milwaukee (7–4) opens a two-game set in Charlotte against the Hornets.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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‘You’ve Got To Trust Each Other’: Cooper Flagg’s Career Night Ends In Heartbreak As Dallas Mavericks Fall Late To Milwaukee Bucks

Cooper Flagg’s Fearless Night Showed His Potential

Jason Kidd Sees Parallels Between Cooper Flagg and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Early Development