Dallas Mavericks rookie star Cooper Flagg looked to be in considerable pain as he limped to the locker room after appearing to roll his ankle during the first half of Wednesday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets.

Flagg was defending Denver’s Peyton Watson, moving laterally to his left when he rolled his ankle. He shuffled back to the locker room and it appeared that Flagg’s evening might be done.

But the top pick of the 2025 NBA Draft reemerged and was back on the court before the first half was even over.

When the second half started, though, Flagg was not on the court and the Mavericks announced that he would not return due to a left ankle sprain.

Flagg finished with six points on 3-for-9 shooting and added a rebound and assist. He played 15 minutes.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said the team ‘decided to hold (Flagg out) for the second half,’ according to DLLS Sports’ Ron Harrod Jr. Kidd noted that Flagg also had twisted his ankle in the Mavericks’ last game on Monday.

Kidd did not know if Flagg would play on Thursday when the Mavericks take on the Utah Jazz.