Cooper Flagg is day-to-day with a rest issue, according to the Mavericks' injury report, and will not play Wednesday night against the Pelicans. Dallas opens its 2026-27 season at 0-0 without its 19-year-old forward in the lineup.
What happened
The Mavericks listed Cooper Flagg as day-to-day on the injury report issued Wednesday at 6:39 p.m. ET, with the issue logged as rest. He had no previous status on the report. Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports that Flagg, out with rest, will not play Wednesday against the Pelicans. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 16.
What it means for the Mavericks
Dallas hosts the Pelicans Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBA TV without Flagg, who averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 33.5 minutes over 70 games last season. The game is the Mavericks' 2026-27 opener, so the team enters at 0-0 with no record yet to split between games with and without him. Anthony Davis, who averaged 20.4 points in 31.3 minutes last season, headlines the group covering the minutes, along with P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall and Max Christie, who averaged between 12.3 and 15.2 points.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether the rest designation clears. Dallas lists an expected return of Oct. 16, which would put Flagg back in the lineup for the team's following game. The Mavericks open the season without him Wednesday against the Pelicans, and his next appearance on the report will confirm whether that return date holds.
Is Cooper Flagg playing vs Pelicans?
No. Flagg is day-to-day with a rest issue and will not play Wednesday against the Pelicans, according to the injury report.
When will Cooper Flagg be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 16.