Cooper Flagg 43 points powered the Dallas Mavericks past the Indiana Pacers 125-122 on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The 19-year-old added 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals, and he scored 30 of his 43 points in the second half. Dallas overturned a 13-point deficit to win on the second night of a back-to-back. Flagg became only the second teenager in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a single game.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | Dallas Mavericks 125, Indiana Pacers 122 |
| Date | Monday, November 9, 2026 |
| Venue | American Airlines Center, Dallas |
| Cooper Flagg | 43 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals |
| Flagg shooting | 16 of 25 from the floor |
| Kyrie Irving | 35 points, 7 of 10 from three-point range |
| Combined points | Flagg and Irving scored 78 points together |
| Deficit overcome | 13 points |
| Dallas record | 7-4 after the win |
| Historic mark | Second teenager ever with a 40-10-5 game |
How the Night Unfolded in Dallas
The Mavericks did not have an easy path to this win. They trailed by 13 points at one stage, and they were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the kind of spot where tired legs often show up late in a game. Instead, Dallas found a way to fight back and close out a tight contest in front of its home crowd at the American Airlines Center.
The final score of 125-122 tells the story of a game that stayed close until the end. A win earned the hard way after falling behind by double digits shows a group that can stay calm when things go wrong.
For Dallas, the night belonged to its two stars. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving carried the scoring load from start to finish, and their combined 78 points were the engine behind the comeback. Flagg led the way with a season-high 43 points, while Irving added 35 of his own, including seven three-pointers from 10 attempts.
A Second Half That Changed the Game
Flagg scored 30 of his 43 points after halftime, and that second-half surge was the turning point of the night. He finished the game shooting 16 of 25 from the floor, a mark that shows how efficient he was even as he took on a bigger scoring role. The Pacers could not find an answer for Flagg as the game wore on.
The timing mattered as much as the total. Dallas was down by 13 points and playing its second game in two nights, a combination that often leads to a team fading late. Flagg did the opposite. He got stronger as the game went on, and his scoring kept Dallas in touch before pushing the Mavericks ahead. His six assists and three steals show his impact went beyond scoring.
The 43 points were a season high for Flagg, and they came in a game his team had to win the hard way. That combination is what made the night stand out. It was not just a big number on a quiet night. It was a big number that turned a loss into a win.
Flagg and Irving: A Historic Pairing
Kyrie Irving was superb alongside Flagg, scoring 35 points and hitting seven of his 10 three-point attempts. His shooting from deep gave Dallas the spacing it needed to complete the comeback, and when Irving is hitting threes at that rate, defenses have to stretch out to guard him.
Together, Flagg and Irving combined for 78 points, and they became only the second pair of Mavericks teammates to both score 35 or more points in the same game. That is a rare piece of team history, and it underlines how much of the offense ran through the two of them on this night. Two players scoring 35 or more in the same game does not happen often, and it usually takes a special night from both men.
The partnership between a 19-year-old star and a veteran guard is one of the most interesting parts of this Dallas team. Irving brings experience and calm in tight moments, while Flagg brings energy, size and a scoring touch that keeps getting better. For another recent night when a star guard took over, see how Austin Reaves scored 43 points as the Lakers beat the Pistons.
Cooper Flagg 43 Points Puts Him in Rare Company
The numbers from this game place Flagg in some very select company. He became only the second teenager in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a single game. The only other teenager to do it was Kevin Durant, who did it for the Seattle SuperSonics in the last game of the 2007-08 season. That gap of nearly two decades shows how rare this kind of game is for a player who has not yet turned 20.
According to StatMuse, Flagg also became the first teenager in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals in a game. Adding the three steals to the rest of the line makes the performance unique, even in a history that includes some of the greatest players the league has ever seen. It speaks to the all-around nature of his game: he rebounds, he passes, and he defends.
This was also Flagg’s fifth career 40-point game as a teenager, the most 40-point games by a teenager in NBA history. It was his first 40-point game of this season, and most players go a whole career without a single one. For more on another huge scoring night in the league, read about Victor Wembanyama and his 52-point game against the Mavericks.
By scoring more than 35 points, Flagg recorded his seventh career 35-point game as a teenager, tying LeBron James for the most such games as a teenager. Flagg now stands level with him in this category, with time still left before his 20th birthday.
This was also Flagg’s 14th game with at least 30 points before turning 20. Only LeBron James has more, with 20 such games before his 20th birthday. That comparison will follow Flagg for the rest of this season, and every big scoring night will bring it back into focus. For more on LeBron and his place in the game, read about how the Cavaliers spoiled his homecoming with a win over the 76ers.
Flagg was born on December 21, 2006, and he turns 20 on December 21, 2026. He was the first overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft, selected by Dallas, and he won Rookie of the Year in 2026. He was the youngest player in NBA history to reach 50 points, scoring 51 against Orlando on April 3, 2026, at 19 years and 103 days old. That 51-point night was an early sign of what was to come.
What the Win Means for Dallas
The win moved Dallas to a 7-4 start to the season, a solid record that keeps the Mavericks in a strong position early on. Dallas did not have its best night from start to finish. It fell behind, it played on tired legs, and it still found a way to win. That kind of resilience is what good teams are built on.
For a young team built around a 19-year-old star, nights like this also build belief. Flagg showed he can carry a team through a tough game, and Irving showed he can still be the perfect partner on the biggest nights. When both of them are scoring at this level, Dallas is a very hard team to beat.
There is also the simple matter of momentum. A win at home, in front of the Dallas crowd, with a historic night from the franchise player, gives the whole team a lift. The Mavericks will want to carry that feeling into their next games and keep building on a 7-4 start.
FAQs
How many points did Cooper Flagg score against the Pacers?
Cooper Flagg scored a season-high 43 points against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, November 9, 2026. He shot 16 of 25 from the floor and scored 30 of his 43 points in the second half.
What was the final score of Mavericks vs Pacers?
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Indiana Pacers 125-122 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Dallas overturned a 13-point deficit to win the game.
What record did Cooper Flagg set with his 43-point game?
Flagg became only the second teenager in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a single game. The only other teenager to do it was Kevin Durant in the last game of the 2007-08 season.
How many 40-point games has Cooper Flagg had as a teenager?
This was Flagg’s fifth career 40-point game as a teenager, the most 40-point games by a teenager in NBA history. It was his first 40-point game of this season.
Sources
Final Thoughts
Cooper Flagg 43 points against the Indiana Pacers was more than just a big scoring total. It was a comeback win, a season high, and a place in NBA history all rolled into one evening in Dallas. At 19 years old, he joined Kevin Durant as the only teenager ever to record a 40-10-5 game, and he tied LeBron James for the most 35-point games as a teenager. Those are names that define basketball greatness, and Flagg now sits alongside them in the record books.
With Kyrie Irving adding 35 points of his own, the Mavericks showed what they can do when their two stars click at the same time. The 7-4 start gives Dallas a solid base to build on, and if Flagg keeps producing nights like this one, the rest of the league will be watching closely. For now, the message is simple: Cooper Flagg is already one of the most exciting players in the NBA.
