Cooper Flagg posted 14 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds in Dallas's 132-115 rematch win over Houston, yet finished -9, the worst plus-minus on either roster. Rookie guard Sergio de Larrea answered with 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and a +34 in 22 minutes off the bench.
Flagg's Shot Quality Lagged
Flagg went 3-for-10 from the field and 1-for-4 from three, numbers that do not match his usage. He ran the offense well, finishing with 7 assists, 2 steals and a block, but the -9 next to his name was still the game's low mark. For a 19-year-old carrying first-option touches, the line reads as playmaking ahead of schedule and scoring efficiency still behind it.
De Larrea Made His Case
Sergio de Larrea's 22 minutes produced 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and a +34 that topped both rosters by a wide margin. Naji Marshall scored 14 on 4-for-8 shooting and Max Christie matched him at 14 on 4-for-7, and the bench outscored the Houston reserves by enough to help turn 132-115. Dusty May now has a rotation argument he did not have a week ago.
Four Days Before The Pelicans
Dallas gets one rest day before hosting New Orleans on Oct. 14 on NBA TV, not a back-to-back and the only game on the calendar for four days. Morez Johnson Jr. landed on the injury report Oct. 11, day-to-day with rest as the issue, the newest name after Marcus Sasser and Dereck Lively II. The open question is whether May treats de Larrea's +34 as noise or as reason to hand him heavier minutes against New Orleans.
Why did Cooper Flagg finish -9 in a Mavericks win?
Flagg shot 3-for-10 from the field and 1-for-4 from three in the 132-115 win over Houston, and his minutes carried the game's worst plus-minus even with 7 assists.
When do the Mavericks play next?
Dallas hosts New Orleans on Oct. 14 on NBA TV, a preseason game and the team's only action for four days.
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