DALLAS (AP) — Mavericks star Cooper Flagg will miss Saturday night’s home game against the San Antonio Spurs after an MRI revealed a mild sprain of his left shoulder suffered just before halftime of Dallas' win at Indiana a night earlier.
Last season's Rookie of the Year will be reevaluated next week.
Flagg was driving to the basket after making a steal near midcourt Friday night in the final minute of the first half. As he went up for an apparent dunk, he was fouled from behind by Aaron Nesmith, a play that was ruled a Flagrant 1 foul. Flagg landed behind the baseline on his left shoulder and didn't reenter the game.
Flagg was leading all scorers with 14 points in 17 minutes along with five rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block. Dallas led 77-43 at halftime and went to beat the Pacers 121-105.
Flagg scored 32 points in the Mavericks’ opener on Wednesday night, a 128-110 loss at Houston. Last season, he averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
Saturday’s game will be the home debut of Mavericks coach Dusty May, who led Michigan to the NCAA championship last season.
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Players from the Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers scuffle after a hard foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Former NBA player Malik Beasley is negotiating a plea agreement with the Department of Justice after initially pleading not guilty to charges that he altered his play in certain games in 2024 to enrich sports bettors and ease his own debts, his attorney said Saturday.
In July, Beasley entered a not guilty plea in New York federal court. He was among the latest big names caught up in a sweeping federal gambling investigation.
Beasley's attorney, Steve Haney, told The Associated Press in a text message that they were negotiating an agreement with the government “with an expected direction in the coming days.”
Beasley, 29, and sports agent Paolo Zamorano, who has also pleaded not guilty, were among six people charged in an indictment unsealed this summer detailing a gambling scandal that has involved more than three dozen arrests.
Zamorano, 39, formerly represented another co-defendant, ex-NBA player Ed Davis, who had lent money to Beasley and is accused of acting as his “gatekeeper” in the alleged scheme.
Beasley is accused of fixing or trying to fix his performance in at least four games while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024 by under or overperforming bookmakers’ expectations. In exchange, the indictment said, the bettors bribed Beasley — and his debts to Davis were reduced or eliminated.
“Only way you can beat Vegas is sports betting,” Davis told Beasley in a Jan. 26, 2024, text message, according to the indictment. “Everything else they got the edge.”
Beasley borrowed money from Davis, a former teammate, after racking up millions of dollars in gambling losses. His widely reported financial problems include disputes with a Detroit landlord, a Milwaukee barber and a Minnesota dentist. A 2025 lawsuit from a sports marketing agency resulted in a $1 million default judgment against him.
AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
FILE - Former NBA player Malik Beasley arrives outside of Brooklyn federal court on July 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa, File)
