Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Cooper Flagg scored 49 points — the most ever by a teenager in a single NBA game — but it was not enough to save the Dallas Mavericks from a 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. On a dominant night, the 19-year-old forward, who was the top pick in last year’s NBA Draft, sank a clutch three-pointer to tie the score 121-121 with barely 30 seconds remaining. However, in the game’s dying seconds, Flagg committed a turnover and immediately raced up the court, fouling fellow rookie star Kon Knueppel, who converted two free throws. Flagg then missed a potential tying 20-foot jump shot in the game’s final action, ending his record-breaking night on a bittersweet note.
Still, with his 49-point haul, Flagg blasted past a record set almost half a century ago by Cliff Robinson, who scored 45 points as a 19-year-old way back in 1980. This marked a third consecutive loss for the Mavericks, but a fifth straight win for the lowly Hornets, who sit 11th in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte’s own star rookie Knueppel — a college roommate and teammate of Flagg — also managed a career-high night, contributing 34 points.
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Elsewhere, the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder slumped to a wire-to-wire 123-111 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite another 30-point haul from reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards remarked that the thrashing was a measure of revenge for Minnesota’s loss to the Thunder in last year’s Western Conference finals. “It’s personal for me because they put us out last year, and they got the reigning MVP,” Edwards said. “And I think a win like this shows…if we bring our defensive intensity every night, we’re going to be alright.”
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey combined for 77 points as the Philadelphia 76ers eked out a 113-111 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Maxey, 25, who has frequently outshone his more established teammates this year, passed the 40-point mark for the fifth time this season, adding eight assists and four rebounds. Cameroonian veteran Embiid poured in 37 points, but in the night’s decisive play, passed the ball to his younger teammate, who drove to the basket and scored a game-winning layup with five seconds left on the clock.
Dillon Brooks scored a career-best 40 points in a 114-96 victory for the Phoenix Suns over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons. Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards triumphed 109-99 over the Milwaukee Bucks, who were without the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo — subject of frenzied trade speculation ahead of next week’s deadline.
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