DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks rookie teenage standout Cooper Flagg will miss their final game before the All-Star break and not play in the NBA's Rising Stars game on Friday night because of a left midfoot sprain.
The Mavericks announced Wednesday night than an MRI revealed the injury that occurred in their 120-111 loss at Phoenix a night earlier, when he had 27 points in 36 minutes. They said further updates “will be provided as appropriate.”
Flagg, the No. 1 draft pick last summer, is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his 49 games with Dallas.
The 19-year-old recently set an NBA record for a teenager with four consecutive games of at least 30 points. That streak began with a single-game NBA teen record 49 points on Jan. 29 in a home loss to Charlotte and fellow rookie Kon Knueppel, his roommate when they were freshmen at Duke last season.
The Mavericks (19-34) have an eight-game losing streak going into Thursday night's game at the Los Angeles Lakers.
Flagg has averaged 29.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the losing streak, during which the Mavericks last week traded Anthony Davis, the 10-time All-Star who joined the Mavs in a deal a year ago that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
Dallas will play its first three games after the All-Star Game on the road, resuming play Friday, Feb. 20 at Minnesota.
Jazz forward Ace Bailey will replace Flagg in the Rising Stars game.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) prepares to defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg shoots over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) runs the court in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The NFL said Friday that it would not discipline Rashee Rice after a former girlfriend posted images of bruises and wounds on social media earlier this year and alleged that they were caused by the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver.
The league said in a statement that Rice “has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal conduct policy.”
The Chiefs did not have an immediate comment on the decision, but Rice's attorney, Sean Lindsey, said in a statement that "Mr. Rice wants to thank the NFL for their thorough investigation, and looks forward to the start of the 2026-27 NFL season.”
The 25-year-old Rice missed the first six games of last season after the NFL found that he had violated its personal conduct policy when he caused a multi-car crash on a Dallas highway while driving erratically in speeds nearing 120 mph. Rice left the scene of the accident before police arrived, then took responsibility for the wreck in a statement a couple of weeks later.
Rice turned himself in when an arrest warrant was issued and he subsequently pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges last July — collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury — and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years’ probation. He also was required to pay victims’ medical expenses.
The latest off-the-field issue involving Rice came after former girlfriend Dakoda Jones alleged in a lawsuit filed in February in Dallas County, Texas, that he had physically assaulted her multiple times, causing injuries that included bleeding and bruising.
The lawsuit said Rice “grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit, and headbutted” Jones, in addition to hitting her with objects. The lawsuit also said Rice had thrown objects, punched walls and broken furniture, and many of these incidents occurred when Jones, who has two children with Rice, was pregnant.
Rice had 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns last season as Kansas City went 6-11 and missed the playoffs.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Nov. 23, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
FILE - Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) lines up for the snap during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Nov. 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, File)
