Cooper Flagg, 19, Becomes First Teenager To Score 50 Points In An NBA Game

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, 19, became the first teenager to score over 50 points in an NBA game.

Flagg scored 51 points in the Mavericks’ 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic on April 3. Flagg continues to build his Rookie of the Year case.

Along with his 51 points, Flagg also had six rebounds and three assists. Brandon Williams scored 23 points off the Mavericks’ bench as well.

Despite getting good performances from Flagg and Williams, it wasn’t enough to beat the Magic. Wendell Carter Jr. (28 points) and Desmond Bane (27 points) led the way for the Magic.

The Magic had more all-around production. The Magic had six double-digit scorers compared to the Mavericks’ four. The Mavericks have two key contributors, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II, out for the season. Additionally, Caleb Martin and Daniel Gafford also didn’t play against the Magic. 

Although this game was a frustrating loss, the Mavericks bounced back against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5. Flagg nearly scored 50 points again, but his 45 points, eight rebounds and nine assists were enough to lead the Mavericks to victory. P.J. Washington also made strong contributions with 15 points. Gafford was healthy for this game and scored seven points.

The Lakers received major injury updates before this game. They were informed that Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will miss the rest of the regular season and likely the start of the playoffs as well. LeBron James will be tasked with leading the team while his two 20-point-per-game scorers are hurt. He played very well against the Mavericks, with 30 points, nine rebounds and 15 assists. However, it wasn’t enough to get the win. Jaxson Hayes also scored 23 points off the bench. 

The Mavericks have four more games this season. They will play the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls.