Famous and familiar faces will not be on the court when the Dallas Mavericks are welcomed into town by the Los Angeles Lakers for the final NBA game before the All-Star break.
The Mavericks are slugging toward the break on an eight game loss streak. In Dallas’ final chance to get a win before the break, it will be without its young and rising star.
Cooper Flagg is dealing with a left foot strain that occurred during the Maverick’s loss to Phoenix on Tuesday. He scored 27 points in that game where he spent 36 minutes on the court. He will also not be participating in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars game Friday.
Flagg has only missed three games due to injury in his rookie campaign, and one to illness. So far this year, he is averaging 20.4 points a game, which leads Dallas. He also leads the team in minutes per game.
MORE: Jason Kidd diagnoses Cooper Flagg-led Mavs’ glaring problem in loss to Suns
His status of out for this game is the same for a player who once held Flagg’s current title of ‘most exciting young Dallas Maverick’.
Luka Doncic, who was traded away from Dallas just over a year ago, will also be missing Thursday’s game. It’s the fourth straight game he’s missed due to a hamstring strain. This streak of absences has been his longest of the year.
The Lakers are currently 32-21 on the season and in sixth-place in the Western Conference, just on the inside of the playoffs.
Kyrie Irving will obviously not play Thursday night, as he might be at risk of missing the entire season with the trajectory of the Maverick’s record.
Fans in attendance at crypto.com Arena will still be able to see one star, at least. LeBron James will be playing in Thursday night’s game, which tips off at 10 p.m. ET.
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