Cooper Flagg becomes youngest to score 50 points in NBA game
The 19-year-old Dallas Mavericks rookie scored 51 points Friday against Orlando, breaking his own teenage scoring record, though the team lost 138-127.
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Cooper Flagg scored 51 points Friday night to become the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 50-point milestone, a record-setting performance that came despite the Dallas Mavericks' 138-127 home loss to the Orlando Magic.
The 19-year-old surpassed his previous teenage scoring record of 49 points, which he set on January 29 against the Charlotte Hornets. Flagg's 51-point game broke the previous record held by Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, who scored 55 points at age 20 years and 52 days. Flagg is 19 years and 103 days old.
Flagg's scoring explosion came primarily in the fourth quarter, where he added 24 points after entering the frame with 27. He finished the game shooting 19 of 30 from the field, a 63.3 percent clip, and made 6 of 9 three-pointers for 66.7 percent accuracy. Beyond scoring, Flagg recorded 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 1 turnover.
The performance occurred amid a contentious sequence in the fourth quarter. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and forward Naji Marshall were both ejected after complaining about what they believed was a no-call when Desmond Bane fouled Flagg. Kidd was ejected after receiving a single technical foul, while Marshall had accumulated a second technical foul moments after Kidd's ejection. Marshall had received his first technical at the end of the first half.
Despite his individual achievement, the loss marked the Mavericks' 14th consecutive home game defeat. The team has been eliminated from playoff contention for several weeks. Orlando improved its position in the Eastern Conference standings, though the Magic remain in the play-in tournament zone at ninth place in the East.
Flagg continues to compete for the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said of the performance, "He should be rookie of the year. The country is not watching the same thing we get to watch on a daily basis. He's in rare air."
With his 51-point game, Flagg joined Michael Jordan as the only rookies to record multiple games of 45 points or more in their first NBA season.