The Philadelphia 76ers host the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 20 at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 6 p.m. CST.
The Dallas Mavericks take their stretch of six wins over the last eight games into Xfinity Mobile Arena to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
It will be the last game for rookie forward Cooper Flagg as an 18 year old.
Flagg has gone from college basketball's player of the year, No. 1 overall draft pick, to now face of a franchise back-to-back-to-back with hardly a chance to catch his breath.
And throughout the 27 games of his inaugural season, we've had out breath taken away numerous times, too.
Ever since Flagg's move back to his normal position on the wing after a failed point guard experiment, the Duke alum has exponentially improved in his decisiveness and comfort scoring the ball, which complements an already capable skillset of defensive instincts to impact winning at the highest degree.
In this momentum-building eight-game run, Flagg is averaging over 25 points per game. Over the past two games - a 42-point explosion and 23-point double-double to lead the team to an overtime win - he's simply dominated.
He turns 19 on Sunday (an off day before the final home game of the season on Tuesday), so there is obviously plenty to look forward to in his NBA career. Head coach Jason Kidd can't help himself from fantasizing about how the rest will play out.
"We’re very fortunate to have him and we’ll treasure him at 18 and 19 all the way until he’s 55," Kidd joked after Flagg's record-breaking night.
Ahead of this matchup with Philly, Kidd spoke about the things he's focused on in Flagg's development as his career unfolds.
"Two things: time and strength,” Kidd said. “And we can’t speed up time and we can’t speed up strength. He’ll be 19. Those are two things, time and strength. As he gets stronger, the sky’s the limit. And time, just absorbing all the different situations, going through winning and losing.”
The Mavs have had their fair share of experiences on both side of the scoreboard. This recent stretch has been rewarding, but the team remains on the outside looking in to the Play-In Tournament in the West, and are stuck playing catch-up from a dreadful start.
Flagg is remembering to build on this individual and team-based momentum brick by brick.
“Day to day. Not getting ahead of ourselves, not even trying to look big picture right now," he said about his current outlook. "But just on a day-to-day basis, just showing up and getting better and dedicating ourselves to competing every single night and knowing that we got a lot left to give, and we think we can be a good team.”
He's focused on getting to 19 ... but Kidd's suggestion of 55? There are quite a few bricks to lay until then.
The rookie is, of course, still getting accustomed to his new life and success, but Flagg's loyalty hasn't been put into question. That word is a tender one for MFFL's, so you can only imagine how these remarks boost spirits of optimism to go along with excitement around his stellar play.
“Loyalty has always been a big thing for me, and I think it’s just being where my feet are," Flagg said this week. "I’ve loved every minute of being here [in Dallas]. I feel like I’m living the dream.
"Everyone here in Dallas has been so amazing, so I’d be foolish not to want to be here for as long as I can, and whatever happens happens, but I’m just trying to enjoy life one day at a time and take what’s given to me and just feel really blessed.”
How to Watch
WHO: Dallas Mavericks (11-17, 11th in West) at Philadelphia 76ers (15-11, 5th in East)
WHERE: Xfinity Mobile Arena | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 20 | 6 p.m. CST
TV: KFAA-29 (DFW), MavsTV streaming
RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle (DFW); 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
Betting Odds
Courtesy of DraftKings
SPREAD: Philadelphia -2.5
TOTAL: 227.5
MONEYLINE: Philadelphia -122, Dallas +102