The Dallas Mavericks will again enter a high-profile matchup shorthanded, with rookie forward Cooper Flagg listed as questionable on an 11-player injury report ahead of Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup against the New York Knicks.
Flagg is dealing with a left ankle sprain that has already cost him two games, including Dallas’ wire-to-wire 138–120 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. While the Mavericks have found ways to win without him, Flagg’s availability remains a central storyline as Dallas prepares for a road test against a Knicks team searching for stability of its own.
Cooper Flagg’s Status Looms Large
Flagg did not play in either game of Dallas’ two-game home sweep of Utah, an absence that underscored both how much the Mavericks rely on him — and how aggressively they have adapted without him.
Entering Monday’s game, Flagg is averaging 18.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 40 games this season. His last appearance came earlier in the week, when he scored 27 points against Brooklyn, continuing a stretch in which Dallas leaned heavily on his shot creation, rebounding, and defensive versatility amid a wave of injuries.
With Flagg listed as questionable, his status could remain fluid up until tipoff. Dallas has already shown it can survive short stretches without him, but his return would immediately stabilize rotations that remain in flux.
Dallas Mavericks Continue To Navigate Extended Absences
Flagg is one of several names on the injury report, and Dallas will remain without multiple starters and key rotation pieces.
Anthony Davis is out with a left finger sprain. Kyrie Irving remains out following left knee surgery. The Mavericks will also be without Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), D’Angelo Russell (illness), P.J. Washington (personal reasons), and Danté Exum (right knee surgery).
The report also includes three two-way players — Moussa Cissé, Miles Kelly, and Ryan Nembhard — all listed as probable. Their availability matters as Dallas continues to lean into depth, with larger workloads falling to players such as Jaden Hardy, Caleb Martin, and Dwight Powell amid the constant rotation churn.
Momentum Built Without Cooper Flagg Carries Into New York
Despite the injury list, Dallas enters New York with momentum after one of its most complete offensive performances of the season.
Klay Thompson scored all 23 of his points in the first half against Utah, reaching the 17,000-point milestone and sparking an offense that leaned into pace, spacing, and ball movement. Max Christie and Brandon Williams each added 22 points, while Naji Marshall served as a connective piece with 16 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
Dallas shot 53.8% from the field and knocked down 18 three-pointers, following a 19-three performance two nights earlier. Even without Flagg, the Mavericks controlled both games against Utah from start to finish, improving to 17–26 on the season and winning three of their last four.
That offensive identity — quick decisions, early offense, and unselfish play — will again be tested against New York.
New York Knicks Also Searching For Answers
The Knicks enter Monday’s game dealing with their own uncertainty. Jalen Brunson, their leading scorer at 28.2 points per game, remains sidelined after spraining his right ankle last week. New York has struggled without him, losing eight of its last 10 games after a strong December run.
The Knicks were unable to close Saturday’s 106–99 loss to Phoenix, shooting just 1-for-11 from three-point range over the final eight minutes. Josh Hart also missed that game with a sore ankle, further thinning New York’s rotation.
Monday’s matchup places two teams at different points in the standings but facing similar questions about availability, depth, and sustainability.
For Dallas, the formula has been clear: survive the injury stretch, lean on shooting and pace, and keep stacking wins wherever possible. Whether that approach includes Cooper Flagg in uniform remains one of the most important answers still to come.
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