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Cooper Flagg Returns; Mavericks Fall in Back-to-Back Games

PUBLISHED Mar 5, 2026, 5:34 PM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 6

Left 17%

Center 67%

Right 17%

Sources: 6

ORLANDO and BOSTON — Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg returned from a left midfoot sprain this week, rejoining Dallas’ lineup Thursday against the Orlando Magic and again Friday at TD Garden. He scored 18 points in Orlando but Dallas lost 115-114 after a late three-pointer; he then produced 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a 120-100 loss to the Celtics, whose Jayson Tatum made his season debut following an Achilles injury. Flagg reached the 1,000-career-point milestone during the sequence. Teams and media reported the performances and injuries across multiple game recaps. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Ayesha A. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

May (previous season): Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles during the playoffs.
Nov. 10 (reported by The Dallas Morning News): Cooper Flagg suffered a left midfoot sprain.
Feb. 10 (reported by LatestLY/AP): Flagg was noted as last playing at Phoenix before the absence.
Thursday this week: Flagg returned and scored 18 points in a 115-114 loss to Orlando.
Friday this week: Flagg posted 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in a 120-100 loss at Boston.

News Intelligence

Cooper Flagg's return is big for Mavericks fans. His scoring ability was missed during his injury. Also, Jayson Tatum's comeback could shake up the Eastern Conference. If you're a basketball fan, these developments could impact your team's standing.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 6
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 4
Distribution:: Left 17%, Center 67%, Right 17%

Who Benefited

Cooper Flagg benefited by returning from a midfoot sprain, reaching the 1,000-point milestone and gaining experience; the Dallas Mavericks benefited from added rotational depth and regional fan engagement, while New England communities received heightened media attention.

Who Impacted

The Mavericks suffered two narrow losses, failing to close late against Orlando and losing to Boston despite Flagg’s contributions; local fans and the team’s win-loss record were adversely affected in consecutive games.