Flagg's 45 points power Mavs past Lakers

Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg scored 45 points, with nine assists and eight rebounds, in a 134-128 victory over the injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026. The win snapped Dallas's longest home losing streak in 32 years and improved the Mavericks' record to 25-53. Flagg followed his franchise-record 51-point outing against the Orlando Magic two nights earlier.

Flagg vies for NBA Rookie of the Year honors with former Duke Blue Devils teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets. "I think it's definitely some sort of statement," Flagg told reporters. "But it just goes back to what I said: I'm confident in myself, and I know what I'm capable of. I'll just let the rest of the stuff figure itself out."

Flagg became the first rookie with consecutive 40-point games since Allen Iverson in the 1996-97 season. He also holds the distinction as the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised his versatility: "I don't know if he's making a closing statement. I think he's doing what he's been doing all season. Being able to play different positions. Being able to be uncomfortable. He's never complained and has delivered for us. Tonight, being able to do it on national television, it's not easy. Especially coming off a 50-ball. He wants to win, and he helped the team win tonight."

Flagg leads Dallas at 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Knueppel averages 18.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists for Charlotte, which eyes its first playoff berth since 2016. Dallas has four games remaining; Charlotte has three.