Teenage rookie Cooper Flagg delivered another spectacular performance on Sunday, scoring 45 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 134-128 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 19-year-old phenom, who made history just a day earlier by becoming the first teenager to score 50 points in an NBA game, continued his remarkable run with a dominant showing against the injury-depleted Lakers. Flagg added nine assists and eight rebounds to his scoring outburst, showcasing his all-around game.
Flagg's back-to-back 40-point performances mark the first time a rookie has achieved this feat since Allen Iverson in 1997, solidifying his position as a frontrunner for this season's Rookie of the Year award.
"We didn't start the game the right way and just played catch-up the rest of the game," said Lakers coach JJ Redick after the loss. "It was just a poor defensive night for our side."
The Mavericks seized control early, building a 41-30 lead by the end of the first quarter against a Lakers squad missing both Luka Doncic, the NBA's leading scorer, and rising star Austin Reaves.
Despite the loss, 41-year-old LeBron James put up an impressive stat line for the Lakers with 30 points, 15 assists, and nine rebounds. Luke Kennard contributed a triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists.
For the Mavericks, PJ Washington added 15 points, while Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams each scored 13. Veteran Klay Thompson knocked down three three-pointers in his 11-point contribution.
The victory comes as the Mavericks, currently 12th in the Western Conference, have already been eliminated from playoff contention. The Lakers remain third in the conference standings despite Sunday's defeat.