The matchup everyone has circled since draft night arrives Friday: Cooper Flagg vs. Luka Dončić, the first-ever meeting between the No. 1 pick and the former Mavericks superstar who now leads the league in scoring for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Flagg has quickly become the centerpiece of Dallas’ rebuilding identity, averaging 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists through 18 games while seeing every possible late-game scenario. Dončić, meanwhile, has emerged as a leading MVP candidate in his first season with the Lakers, averaging 35.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.2 assists while forming the NBA’s highest-scoring duo with Austin Reaves.
Jason Kidd has praised Flagg’s poise throughout the Mavericks’ league-leading volume of clutch-game battles. At the same time, he didn’t hesitate to put Dončić’s greatness in context when asked if the superstar looks any different than he did in Dallas.
“He’s one of the best scorers in the world, so I don’t know if it’s anything different,” Kidd said. “I think you can see he’s confident and he’s playing the game at a very high level…if not the MVP. We’ve seen that while he was here in Dallas, and he’s doing it in LA.”
Flagg enters the matchup dealing with a right thumb sprain that has affected his shooting (25% from three since the injury), but his late-game defense, physicality, and decision-making have become central to how Dallas closes games. Friday offers the most difficult assignment of his young career — and perhaps the clearest measuring stick yet.
How to Watch Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Date: Friday, Nov. 28
Time: 8:00 p.m. CST
Location: Crypto.com Arena — Los Angeles, CA
TV: Prime Video
Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
Live Stats: NBA.com
Social Media Updates: @GrantAfseth
Dallas Mavericks Injury Report
Davis went through his first full practice in nearly a month on Wednesday and said he’s hopeful to return “this weekend” depending on medical input. Dallas is 8–6 with Davis since acquiring him and 10–28 without him.
Los Angeles Lakers Injury Report
LeBron James returned recently from sciatica, averaging 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.7 assists on 52.5% shooting.
Luka Dončić’s MVP Form Presents a Unique Challenge
For all the matchups Cooper Flagg has faced to begin his NBA career, nothing matches the complexity of guarding Luka Dončić in this kind of rhythm. Dončić leads the league in scoring at 35.2 points per game, has already posted five 40-point performances, and continues to bend defenses with a pace and physicality that look even sharper than during his time in Dallas.
Asked this week whether Dončić looks any different with the Lakers, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said the foundation of his superstar former guard remains unchanged.
“He’s one of the best scorers in the world, so I don’t know if it’s anything different,” Kidd said. “I think you can see he’s confident and he’s playing the game at a very high level…if not the MVP. Just understanding, we’ve seen that while he was here in Dallas, and he’s doing it in LA.”
That level of command makes Friday’s assignment a defining moment for Flagg. Dončić forces defenders into solving multiple actions within a single possession — the initial move, the counter, the footwork, the strength bump and the read after the read. Even a well-defended first step can be undone by the second or third.
His 43-point, nine-rebound, 13-assist performance against the Clippers on Tuesday was a reminder of what happens when he dictates every possession. For Flagg, the challenge lies in defending with discipline, controlling angles and absorbing physical play without fouling — all while maintaining the poise Dallas has trusted him with in tight games.
Why This Matchup Matters for Cooper Flagg’s Development Curve
Flagg’s introduction to NBA life has been anything but gradual. Cooper Flagg has averaged 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 18 games this season. He has done all of it while battling a right thumb sprain that has impacted his perimeter shooting. Since suffering the injury on Nov. 8, he has shot just 25 percent from three, including 1-of-11 over his last three contests.
Still, Kidd continues trusting Flagg in pivotal situations because of his defensive instincts, late-game poise and ability to make the right play even when his scoring isn’t falling. After a recent close loss, Kidd said Flagg’s approach had helped keep Dallas in position late, noting “just his patience, understanding when to go,” and adding that “he makes winning plays…he put us in that position to win that game.”
Kidd said after a recent tight loss that Flagg’s composure stood out during a late push.
“Just his patience, understanding when to go,” Kidd said. “And then again, he makes winning plays…he put us in that position to win that game.”
Flagg has tried to stay grounded through the team’s struggles, including a shooting slump after suffering a right thumb sprain earlier this month. He said staying connected to the people around him has helped him maintain perspective.
“Keep my people close to me, my family,” Flagg said. “And being optimistic. It’s a long season, we’ve had a lot of guys step up through a lot of injuries. We have a lot of games going forward. Just staying positive.”
The Lakers will test every part of that optimism. Dončić controls the offense at the point of attack. Austin Reaves pressures defenses with timing and counters. LeBron James adds downhill strength and playmaking vision. Flagg will have to read all of it in real time, making decisions possession by possession.
This is the type of matchup Dallas envisioned as part of his development — a measuring stick against top-tier offensive talent and the kind of game that accelerates growth.
Anthony Davis’ Potential Return Could Redefine Cooper Flagg’s Role
Anthony Davis’ status adds another layer of intrigue, both for Dallas’ defensive structure and for Flagg’s responsibilities. Davis practiced fully Wednesday for the first time in nearly a month and said he hopes to return at some point this weekend.
“You know what game I want to play, but we’ll see,” Davis said. “We’ll have a conversation and see what makes the most sense with the medical staff and coaching staff. No decision has been made. Obviously, I would like to (play against the Lakers). But at the end of the day the main thing is to just be on the floor whether it’s Friday or Saturday.”
Dallas has missed Davis in nearly every aspect of late-game execution. Kidd said the absence is felt most clearly in tight finishes.
“You talk about rebounding, scoring and his leadership,” Kidd said. “Those are three big areas that we need, especially with a lot of these games being close.”
Davis admitted it has been difficult watching those moments unfold without being able to help.
“It gets even more frustrating knowing that I’m not able to go out there on the floor,” he said. “Hopefully — I say hopefully — this weekend I’ll be able to get out there and start winning some of these clutch games.”
If Davis plays Friday, Flagg’s workload changes dramatically. With Davis anchoring the back line, Flagg can operate higher on the floor, take more perimeter coverage responsibilities and conserve energy for offense. If Davis is out, Flagg once again becomes the connective piece who must balance defensive rotations, interior help and offensive creation.
Dallas Mavericks’ Clutch Struggles Add Pressure
The Mavericks have lived on the edge of close finishes from the start of the season. They have played 15 clutch games — the most in the NBA — but are 4–11 in those situations. Six of their last seven games have been decided in the final seconds.
Those experiences have forced Flagg into repeated late-game challenges alongside a rotation that has been without Kyrie Irving, Davis and Dereck Lively II. Despite the growing pains, players have said the consistency in these situations is evidence they are close.
P.J. Washington said after Monday’s loss in Miami that the group believes improvement will come. “Spirits are still high,” he said. “We feel like we’re not far off…We’ve had a lot of close games. I don’t think anybody’s worried.”
Flagg echoed that mindset, even as opponents try to test him as often as possible in fourth quarters. He believes the adversity is necessary and that the lessons will compound as the season continues.
Dallas’ issue has not been fight — it has been finishing. Friday offers another late-game stage, and with Dončić on the other side, the pressure on every possession becomes magnified.
What’s at Stake
Beyond Cup implications, this is the first chapter in what Dallas hopes becomes a defining Western Conference rivalry of the next decade: the franchise’s new face vs. its former one, with Dončić playing at an MVP level and Flagg establishing himself through heavy responsibility.
Up Next
Dallas faces the Clippers on Saturday and the Nuggets on Monday to close the road trip.
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