Cooper Flagg ruled out for second half against Pacers with shoulder injury

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg was sidelined for the remainder of Friday night’s contest against the Indiana Pacers after suffering a left shoulder injury. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year was ruled out for the second half of the game following an incident that occurred in the closing stages of the first half.

The injury took place as Flagg attempted to convert a breakaway dunk. Indiana swingman Aaron Nesmith challenged the play from behind, delivering a hard foul that caused the Mavericks forward to lose his balance and land awkwardly on his left shoulder beneath the basket. The impact immediately drew attention from both benches, leading to a brief altercation between players that required intervention from coaching staff to de-escalate.

Prior to his premature departure, the forward had been a significant contributor for the Mavericks, recording 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds. The team confirmed his absence for the remainder of the game shortly after the halftime break, citing soreness in his left shoulder as the primary reason for the decision to keep him off the court.