‘He Set The Tone’: Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson Guide Dallas Mavericks Past LA Clippers Despite Pre-Game Chaos
The Dallas Mavericks arrived at Intuit Dome battered, undermanned and dealing with one of their strangest pre-game sequences of the season. They left with a season-saving win powered by an 18-year-old who keeps rewriting the record books.
Cooper Flagg scored 35 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 35 in a game, and the Mavericks — down six rotation players, thrusting rookies into prominent positions and asking veterans to step into larger roles — stunned the LA Clippers 114–110 on Saturday night.
It was the kind of performance that can define a rookie season, reshape a franchise’s expectations, and rewrite the night’s headlines. But to get there, Dallas first had to endure a turbulent afternoon.
Dallas Mavericks Overcome Pre-Game Injury Chaos
The Mavericks’ day began with an 11:30 a.m. injury report that painted a grim picture. Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Dante Exum, Kyrie Irving, and — unexpectedly — Klay Thompson were listed as out. Thompson was dealing with left knee injury management and was not expected to play the second night of a back-to-back.
But two hours later, Dallas reversed course and upgraded Thompson to available, giving the team one veteran scorer to lean on.
Thompson hadn’t been expected to play, battling stiffness in his left knee and initially ruled out on the injury report. But the veteran guard described a moment of clarity earlier in the day — one that pushed him toward suiting up despite the discomfort. He said he took a trip to the harbor, stepped into the ocean, and reminded himself that these opportunities aren’t guaranteed.
“Honestly, I jumped in the ocean today. Anytime you touch the earth, it gives you energy,” he said. “Went to my boat, the harbor. Told myself: ‘I’m sore, I’m tired, but this is when your character is revealed.’ I don’t have much basketball left. Fifteen years. If I get a few more, I’m lucky. Every night is a blessing.”
Minutes before tipoff, however, the Mavericks absorbed a fresh blow. P.J. Washington, announced as a starter, rolled his right ankle in warmups after stepping on a loose basketball. He never joined the bench and was quickly ruled out.
“It’s tough when P.J.’s playing at a high level and a freak accident — steps on the ball as the horn goes off and twists his ankle,” coach Jason Kidd said. “But again, Naji steps up. I thought he was big for us.”
Kidd wasn’t done navigating setbacks, and when he was asked pregame whether the Mavericks could expect any reinforcements soon, he pushed back on the premise.
“That last part is interesting — ‘as we get guys back,’” Kidd said. “When we lose a guy before the national anthem, how do we get guys back?”
Dallas was left with a rotation built around Flagg, fellow rookie Ryan Nembhard, and a 35-year-old Thompson fighting through knee soreness. Dwight Powell started at center despite normally not being in the rotation, while two-way contract center Moussa Cissé played.
Cooper Flagg Sets the Tone While Clippers Attack Early
The Clippers opened the game aggressively, forcing Dallas into a 3–0 and then an 11–4 hole. Flagg immediately steadied the offense, drilling back-to-back midrange jumpers before scoring again on a driving floater.
Kidd said Flagg’s purpose was obvious from the opening possessions.
“Yeah, I thought Cooper set the tone earlier,” Kidd said. “He was aggressive, getting to the rim. And he did that for the 37 minutes he was on the floor, 38 minutes. He was aggressive. So again, not just the scoring, but being able to find guys, create opportunities for others, and defensively he made some big plays.”
The Clippers attacked relentlessly inside — Zubac, Leonard, and Collins combined for repeated rim pressure — but Dallas held steady behind Flagg’s early scoring, and a late-quarter burst from Brandon Williams. Marshall’s three with 1:53 left pulled Dallas within 26–21, and Williams’ free throws closed the quarter at 28–25.
LA Clippers Stretch Lead, Cooper Flagg Keeps Dallas Mavericks Close
The Clippers appeared poised to break the game open midway through the second quarter. Harden dominated possessions, repeatedly driving into contact, drawing fouls and feeding Zubac and Collins for easy finishes. The lead stretched to 56–43.
But Flagg kept the Mavericks alive. He hit a floater, grabbed an offensive rebound for a tip-in, and scored again on a baseline drive. He closed the half with 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting, keeping Dallas within 56–49.
Asked later about the biggest challenge adjusting to the NBA, Flagg said it starts with the physicality.
“The physicality,” Flagg said. “These are some of the greatest defenders in the world. Everybody knows what Kawhi’s done. Everybody’s strong, physical — grown men. Adapting to that is big.”
He expected the matchup with Leonard. He also studied it.
“For sure,” Flagg said. “He’s someone I wanted to model my game after — playing hard, incredible two-way player, high level on both sides. He’s done that for a long, long time.”
Dallas Mavericks Surge Back Behind Cooper Flagg, Brandon Williams and Timely Shooting
Dallas opened the third quarter with a Nembhard three and a Marshall corner jumper off a Flagg assist. The Mavericks tied it at 59–59, but the Clippers pushed ahead again with Harden feeding Zubac and Leonard hitting midrange jumpers.
At 8:05, Flagg delivered the game’s signature highlight — a two-handed poster dunk on Zubac that electrified the Mavericks’ bench.
“That dunk on Zubac was probably one of the few best dunks I’ve seen in several years,” Thompson said. “You can see his potential in being a superstar.”
Flagg explained the play simply: “Just getting downhill, playing with pace, playing with poise. Sometimes you gotta make the athletic play and rise up over the top.”
He finished an and-one over Leonard minutes later, then assisted Cissé for a go-ahead basket. When Harden tried to pressure Flagg high on the perimeter, Dallas adjusted.
Kidd pointed to a key in-game adjustment that helped Flagg turn the corner in the second half. The Clippers were loading up on his spin moves, sending extra bodies at the point of attack, and Kidd said the staff used early possessions to walk Flagg through how to counter that pressure.
“Helping him understand when he spins, they’re going to be there,” Kidd said of Flagg. “When playing against a ball-pressure club that’s set up that way, he did so — just understanding he stopped spinning and kept straight-line drives. He’s gotta be prepared to be strong with the ball and make plays.”
Late in the quarter, Thompson knocked down a pair of threes, Williams attacked the rim, and Dallas closed the third quarter tied 83–83.
Klay Thompson Ignites, Cooper Flagg Closes, Defense Holds
Thompson opened the fourth with a deep three, giving Dallas its first lead of the night. LA responded with a Leonard jumper and a Zubac hook. Both teams traded baskets until Marshall’s floater put Dallas up 89–87.
Leonard regained the lead at the free-throw line, and the Clippers went ahead 94–89. But Dallas answered with its veterans.
Thompson scored 17 of his 23points in the final period alone. At 6:22, he knocked down a pull-up jumper, then tied the game at 96–96 with a three-pointer at the 5:16 mark. Just over a minute later, at 4:02, he drilled another three to put Dallas ahead 99–98. When Dallas needed a timely shot — especially late in the shot clock — he delivered.
“For me, I knew I was due to shoot efficiently,” Thompson said. “I wasn’t feeling well after last night, thought about sitting out, but I’m playing 20–25 minutes — I gotta be there for my guys.”
The biggest moment of his Mavericks tenure came with 1:52 to play, when Thompson gathered on the left wing, rose over a tight contest and buried a 27-footer that pushed Dallas ahead 104–103. It was his fifth made three of the night and the 2,750th of his career — a shot that underscored why the team’s earlier decision to upgrade him from out to available ended up reshaping the game.
Still, even with Thompson’s brilliance, the night ultimately belonged to Flagg.
After Thompson’s go-ahead three, Flagg answered with a composed jumper at the 2:47 mark, then took control of the closing minute. The Clippers repeatedly tried to trap him and force the ball out of his hands, but Flagg kept putting pressure on the defense, earning trips to the free-throw line and refusing to blink under the pressure of a tight road finish.
Across the final 80 seconds, the 18-year-old went a perfect 6-for-6 from the stripe.
“The ball found him at the line,” Kidd said of Flagg. “He stepped up and made free throws. Composure on both ends. He competes at a very high level, and you saw that tonight.”
Harden hit three free throws with 6.7 seconds left to cut Dallas’ lead to 112–110, but Marshall was fouled with 1.7 seconds remaining and closed the game with two free throws.
Dallas walked off the floor with a 114–110 victory — and with a rookie rewriting the record books for a second straight night.
Veterans Reflect, Rookie Learns, Jason Kidd Sees Growth
Flagg finished with 35 points, eight rebounds, and 9-of-11 free-throw shooting, becoming the youngest 35-point scorer in NBA history. He also became the second-youngest player ever to record 30 points in a game, trailing only LeBron James.
After the game, Flagg said the scoring outburst didn’t surprise him — not because of confidence in his numbers, but because of the role he believes he can grow into long term.
“I see myself as an impact player,” Flagg said. “Scoring is part of that. I think I can score at a high level.”
Much of that impact, he added, came from the veteran voices around him, who stayed in his ear throughout the night as Dallas managed its rotation on the fly.
“Listening to the voices around me,” Flagg said. “We’ve been unhealthy, had guys knocked up, but it’s next-man-up… AD, Kai — they were on the bench helping me through everything, giving me advice.”
Those conversations didn’t stop at the huddle. Flagg described a steady stream of in-game film work, using timeouts to break down possessions and make quick adjustments.
“They’ve kept my confidence high,” Flagg said. “Even little things — watching plays back on the bench, grabbing an iPad, dissecting what I could’ve done better.”
When asked about processing the expectations that come with being the No. 1 pick, Flagg kept it simple, saying he doesn’t internalize the pressure.
“No added pressure,” Flagg said. “It’s our team. Each night could be someone else’s. Coach wants me to be aggressive. We’ll live with some mistakes.”
He did note one difference that has shaped his game early: the space and tempo of the NBA compared to any level he’s played.
“More space,” he said. “Best players, best shooters. Less help. When guys space the floor like Klay did tonight — he came alive down the stretch — it opens lanes for everyone.”
Thompson, standing beside him after the win, embraced the tutor role. He praised Flagg’s maturity and the speed of his development, even while acknowledging the generational gap between them.
“Cooper’s upside is limitless,” Thompson said. “Sometimes I can’t believe he should be a freshman in college. I said before the season, I want to show him how much this means to me — being out there every night. I might be in the last chapter of my career, but he’s just beginning.”
Thompson’s own journey shaped how he approached the night. Earlier that morning, he had been ruled out with knee stiffness, but his mindset changed after a moment of reflection he couldn’t ignore.
“My knee was sore and stiff,” he said. “Honestly, I jumped in the ocean today… told myself, ‘I’m sore, I’m tired, but this is when your character is revealed.’ I don’t have much basketball left. Fifteen years. If I get a few more, I’m lucky. Every night is a blessing.”
Kidd noted that Dwight Powell — who finished with a career-high six steals — exemplified the resolve the Mavericks needed to survive such a chaotic night.
“DP played extremely well,” Kidd said. “Same with Naji. Key plays down the stretch.”
The win pushed Dallas to 6–15 overall, including 2–6 on the road and 5–11 in clutch games — a rare late-game breakthrough for a team that has struggled to finish. The Clippers fell to 5–15 and 3–7 at home, undone by late breakdowns despite big nights from Leonard, Harden and Zubac.
For Kidd, the result underscored how much these minutes matter for a roster defined by youth and uncertainty.
“Close games are only going to make us better,” Kidd said. “Just the experience they’re going through — playing a lot of close games. The group plays hard. You saw that tonight.”
Thompson closed the night by zooming out, offering a comparison that captured how quickly Flagg has become central to what Dallas does — and how willingly he has taken on the role of elder statesman.
“I remember Byron Scott talking about Kobe when he was 18,” Thompson said. “I’m not saying Cooper is Kobe, but I feel like the wise veteran with the future of the franchise next to me.”
What’s Next
The Mavericks end their four-game road trip on Monday against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Anthony Davis is expected to play, but it remains to be seen the severity of Washington’s injury.
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