Aaron Nesmith's hard foul on Cooper Flagg ignites scuffle (0:42)

Tim MacMahon Oct 24, 2026, 02:05 PM ET

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Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009

Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks

Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM

DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks star forward Cooper Flagg had an MRI Saturday morning that revealed a mild left shoulder sprain, the team announced.

Flagg has been ruled out of Saturday night's home opener against the San Antonio Spurs . He will be reevaluated next week.

Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, suffered the injury when he took a hard foul after a flagrant foul by Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith on a breakaway late in the second quarter of the Mavericks' road win Friday night. Flagg exited moments later and did not return to the game.

Flagg, 19, was off to a fast start in his second season. He scored 32 points in Wednesday's loss to the Houston Rockets , the highest-scoring performance ever by a teenager in a season opener.…