Cooper Flagg's fierce competitiveness boiled over, earning him his first career technical foul after a frustrating offensive performance against the Toronto Raptors.
The Dallas Mavericks dropped their seventh game in a row, falling to the Toronto Raptors 122-92 on the road. It was an ugly game from start to finish, with the Mavericks turning the ball over 19 times, committing 20 fouls, and shooting a woeful 16.7% from 3-point range, with only PJ Washington making multiple shots from deep.
Dallas was led by a 21-point double-double from Daniel Gafford, who actually made every shot he took. Toronto, meanwhile, enjoyed 31 points from a red-hot RJ Barrett.
On defense, Cooper Flagg shined, but he was held back on offense, limited to 17 inefficient points and four turnovers. His frustrations boiled over in the fourth quarter, and he was assessed his first career tech.
Cooper Flagg Explains First Technical Foul
Flagg is immensely competitive, but usually directs his ire at opponents and teammates, largely ignoring the referees. For Mavericks fans used to Luka Doncic, it's been refreshing.
After a no-call on Jakob Poeltl as Flagg drove to the basket, however, he gave the refs an earful.
"They were just being physical, high-level pressure, you know, full court, and just speeding us up, being really physical, and just didn't do a great job of getting organized," Flagg said.
The Raptors are in the midst of the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference, and Flagg and the Mavericks have effectively given up on the season, but were unable to meet Toronto where they are, in terms of fire.
"It is what it is," he said of the tech. "You know, I got to be better, just slowing down a little bit. I've been playing a little too fast since I got back, but, yeah, I don't know. I was frustrated, kind of let it out. I got to just move on."
Flagg will be fined $2,000 for his first tech this season, and he has a long way to go if he wants to catch Dillon Brooks' 12 on the season to take over as the NBA leader.
In 2024, Doncic led the league with 19 technical fouls, which didn't help his reputation as a whiner. Still, most fans would prefer to see number 77 on the roster, despite his shortcomings and disagreements with officials.