Among all the ‘welcome to the NBA’ storylines we could’ve predicted, Yaxel Lendeborg’s turned into a thrilling storyline. He took the toughest assignment for an NBA debut, got torched in the mind games, and earned the respect of his veterans and coach. But a little more needs to be done before he has a rematch […]
The post “We Got Torched…I Don’t Care”: Steve Kerr Sends Clear Message to Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg on Upcoming Matchup With Luka Doncic appeared first on EssentiallySports .
The Dallas Mavericks came away from Indiana with a blowout win, but they may also be bracing for some uncertainty surrounding Cooper Flagg. Flagg exited Friday night’s 121-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a left shoulder injury and did not return. After the game, head coach Dusty May gave an initial […]
The post Mavericks HC Dusty May gives initial Cooper Flagg injury diagnosis after hard fall on shoulder vs. Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Eddie A. Johnson has called out Draymond Green before. But this time the issue stemmed when the Golden State Warriors veteran defended his rookie teammate’s action against Luka Doncic. That defense has led to a war of words that has jumped from one social media platform to another. The Los Angeles Lakers were clinical in […]
The post “You Jumped on Steph’s Back”: Suns Icon Eddie Johnson Claps Back at Draymond Green for Calling Him a Clown appeared first on EssentiallySports .
New footage comes to light on what led to Luka Doncic and Yaxel Lendeborg's on-court beef.
The Mavs star took a rough fall after being fouled.
The Dallas Mavericks notch their new coach Dusty May’s first win, beating the Indiana Pacers 121-105 on Oct. 23, 2026. Kyrie Irving leads with 24 points on 5‑of‑10 shooting from deep, while PJ Washington adds 20 and 13 rebounds. A dominant 44‑point first quarter, sparked by a 22‑6 run, and a 15‑0 second‑quarter burst give Dallas a 77‑43 halftime lead. The bench outperforms Indiana’s reserves 28‑6 early, though the Pacers’ bench narrows the gap with a 19‑2 third‑quarter run. Cooper Flagg exits with a shoulder injury, but the Mavericks hold a 98‑76 lead into the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Cooper Flagg exits the Mavericks' 33‑point win in Indiana with left shoulder soreness after a hard foul by Aaron Nesmith, likely missing Saturday's home opener. He had 14 points, six assists and five rebounds in 17 minutes. Magic rookie Paolo Banchero limps out with right ankle soreness in a 0‑2 start, while Pistons’ All‑Star Jalen Duren is questionable after a right thigh injury in Miami. Suns big man Oso Ighodaro sits out Saturday with a strained right oblique, leaving Phoenix thin at center as Mark Williams remains sidelined. Coaches say each player will be evaluated in the coming days.
The Dallas Mavericks claim their first win of the 2026‑27 season, beating the Indiana Pacers 121‑105 in Indianapolis on Oct. 23. Kyrie Irving leads with 24 points, 5‑of‑10 from three and passes franchise legend Mark Aguirre on the all‑time scoring list. P.J. Washington adds 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, while Max Christie contributes 16 points. Dallas erupts for 44 first‑quarter points and builds a 77‑43 halftime lead, but a sloppy third quarter and Irving’s foul trouble threaten a collapse before Naji Marshall and Christie hit key shots to seal the victory. The biggest concern is Cooper Flagg, who leaves after a hard foul and is ruled out, potentially hurting the Mavericks during a tough late‑October stretch.
The Mavericks' fans react as a fight breaks out following Cooper Flagg's injury from a hard foul by Aaron Nesmith of the Pacers.
After successfully leading the Indiana Pacers to a win in his first game back from his Achilles injury, Tyrese Haliburton is now playing his first game back home in Gainbridge Fieldhouse against the Dallas Mavericks. None other than friend and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was in the house to watch Hali’s home return. Indiana […]
The post Caitlin Clark catches Pacers’ home opener vs. Mavs appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Cooper Flagg injured his left shoulder against the Indiana Pacers, but since the Dallas Mavericks ruled this injury as "left shoulder soreness," the team may have dodged a disaster.
The Dallas Mavericks eject rookie Cooper Flagg after he sustains left‑shoulder soreness following a flagrant foul by Indiana forward Aaron Nesmith in the first half of Friday’s game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Flagg left the game with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block in 17 minutes as Dallas led 77‑43 at halftime. The foul, a flagrant 1 that also earned technical fouls for Nesmith and Dallas’s Naji Marshall, escalated after Marshall confronted Nesmith. This marks the second straight game where Flagg draws a flagrant foul, the first being against Kevin Durant. The Mavericks finish the night with a home‑opening tilt against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.
Coach Dusty May’s Dallas Mavericks hit the road to take on the Indiana Pacers in a chance for redemption after Cooper Flagg diagnosed the team’s struggles against the Houston Rockets. Kyrie Irving was also frustrated by the Rockets loss, which led to another eventful night against Indiana as a wild sequence unfolded between Flagg and […]
The post Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg exits Pacers game after shoulder injury leads to brawl appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg leaves the October 23 game against the Indiana Pacers with left‑shoulder soreness after a hard foul by Aaron Nesmith late in the second quarter. Despite making two free throws to finish with 14 points, six assists and five rebounds, Flagg does not return for the second half and is ruled out for the night. The incident sparks a double‑technical foul and a scuffle between Naji Marshall and Nesmith, while Mavericks coach inserts Marshall into the starting lineup. The team labels the injury “soreness,” leaving fans anxious about Flagg’s recovery timeline.
As the Indiana Pacers celebrated Tyrese Haliburton's first home game since returning from his Achilles injury, a special guest was at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to watch.
As Kyrie Irving heads toward an exit, the Dallas Mavericks look to bolster a youthful roster centered on rookie Cooper Flagg. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale highlights three prime trade targets for the 2026‑27 season: Scoot Henderson, who could finally command a starting role after Portland’s crowded point‑guard room; Reed Sheppard, the 2024 third‑overall pick who posted 13.5 points per game for the Rockets and may become expendable with VanVleet and Smart in Houston; and veteran Tre Jones, a seven‑year guard averaging 14 points and 5.4 assists, whose addition would ease pressure on Flagg and improve interior shooting. The piece outlines why each name fits Dallas’ next‑step youth movement.
Walter Clayton Jr. joins the Dallas Mavericks on a two‑way contract, eager to contribute to a roster mixing youth and veterans under first‑year coach Dusty May. After being waived by Memphis, Clayton, the 2025 first‑round pick who averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 assists with Utah and Memphis, praises the Mavericks’ system and sees “something special” forming. He reflects on staying positive through an 82‑game season, managing time with a tighter schedule, and improving his defensive consistency and point‑guard leadership. Clayton can appear in up to 50 regular‑season games, with the Texas Legends as a G‑League option before the Indiana Pacers matchup at 6 p.m. CT.
Indiana Pacers shooting guard Ben Sheppard suffers a torn meniscus in his left knee, sidelining him for “a few weeks” after the injury during Wednesday’s 112‑108 win over New Orleans. Coach Rick Carlisle confirms the timeline is uncertain, but the recovery could be short if treated conservatively. The 26th‑overall pick, who posted 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 65 games last season, remains on a $5 million contract and will become a restricted free agent next summer if the Pacers extend a qualifying offer. While Sheppard sits out, Aaron Nesmith returns from a hamstring strain, but Jarace Walker starts the home opener against Dallas.
The Mavericks head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday for their first back‑to‑back game, facing a Pacers squad energized by Tyrese Haliburton’s return from a torn Achilles. Indiana, 1‑0 after a 123‑120 win over New Orleans, leans on Haliburton’s 23‑point, 12‑assist effort, Pascal Siakam’s 30‑point night, and new acquisition Kelly Oubre Jr. Dallas, 0‑1 after a 128‑110 loss to Houston, looks to cut the 21 turnovers that fuelled the Rockets’ win. Coach Dusty May stresses faster play and ball‑sharing, while Max Christie calls Haliburton “the engine” for Indiana. Injuries leave several Mavericks doubtful, including Jett Howard.
October 23, 2026 Utah Jazz: Blake Hinson became a free agent. October 21, 2026 Dallas Mavericks: Signed Walter Clayton Jr. to a two-way contract. Utah Jazz: Ended Blake Hinson’s two-way contract. Orlando Magic: Exercised their team option on Jase Richardson. Phoenix Suns: Koby Brea became a free agent. Memphis Grizzlies: Walter Clayton Jr. became a […]
The post NBA transactions: Friday 10/23 appeared first on Hoops Wire .
After signing Walter Clayton Jr. to a standard contract this week, the Dallas Mavericks have a roster battle on their hands between Clayton, Jett Howard, and Tobi Lawal.
The Dallas Mavericks' offense looked clunky in their first game of the season, but Santi Aldama will help patch some of their holes when he returns from injury due to his floor spacing and versatility.
The Dallas Mavericks (0‑1) take on the Indiana Pacers (1‑0) Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Catch the game on Dallas’ KFAA or stream it live via Fubo (free trial available). After a 128‑110 loss to Houston, Dallas got 32 points from Cooper Flagg, 17 from Marcus Sasser and 15 from Kyrie Irving, but endured a 37‑point deficit and missed all 14 threes in the second quarter. Indiana opened with a 123‑120 win over New Orleans, led by Pascal Siakam’s 30 points and Tyrese Haliburton’s 23 points/12 assists. The matchup promises a fast‑start showdown between two early‑season winners.
The Dallas Mavericks (0-1) travel to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday at 6 p.m. CST for their second road game, facing a 1‑0 Indiana Pacers squad that just beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123‑120. The Pacers debut Tyrese Haliburton, returning from an Achilles tear that sidelined him for the 2025‑26 season, while Indiana also misses TJ McConnell (hamstring) and lists Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard as questionable. Dallas still lacks Dereck Lively, Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic (heel bursitis), Caleb Martin (thumb sprain) and has Jett Howard doubtful (calf). The Mavericks must improve transition defense and rebounding to bounce back from a loss to the Rockets.
A Topps Motif rookie card featuring Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has sold for $2.16 million after 48 bids on Fanatics Collect.