Cooper Flagg injury update: MRI shows mild shoulder sprain, return date unknown

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has a mild left shoulder sprain, an MRI showed Saturday, October 24. He missed that night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs and will be reevaluated next week. The team has not announced when he will return.

The diagnosis is the clearest update since Flagg left Dallas’s game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday. It confirms the injury and his absence against San Antonio, but the planned reevaluation is not a return date.

How Flagg hurt his shoulder

Flagg was driving toward the basket after a steal late in the first half against Indiana when Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith fouled him from behind. The foul was ruled a Flagrant 1. Flagg landed on his left shoulder and did not return for the second half.

Dallas went on to beat Indiana 121-105. Flagg’s absence against the Spurs came the following night, leaving the Mavericks without him for their home opener.

What is known about his return

The Mavericks have said Flagg will be reevaluated next week, but have not given a specific day for that assessment or a timetable for him to play again. His status for future games remains unconfirmed.

Dallas is scheduled to visit the Miami Heat on Monday, October 26, then host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, October 28. Neither game has been identified as Flagg’s return date. The next meaningful update will be the team’s assessment of his shoulder and its decision on his availability.