Teenage Sensation Flagg Leads Mavericks Past Lakers

19-year-old rookie scores career-high 45 points in victory over LeBron James and the Lakers.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:59am

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In a high-scoring affair, 19-year-old Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg poured in a career-best 45 points to lead his team to a 134-128 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Flagg's dominant performance overshadowed a strong showing from Lakers superstar LeBron James, who finished with 38 points in the losing effort.

Why it matters

Flagg's breakout game is the latest in a string of impressive outings for the young phenom, who has quickly emerged as one of the NBA's most exciting young talents. His ability to take over games at such a young age has sparked comparisons to some of the league's all-time greats and has the Mavericks dreaming of a bright future.

The details

Flagg shot an efficient 16-of-24 from the field, including 5-of-9 from three-point range, to power the Mavericks' offensive attack. He also added 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the winning effort. LeBron James did his best to keep the Lakers in the game, scoring 38 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Flagg's heroics.

  • The game was played on April 6, 2026.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A 19-year-old rookie sensation for the Dallas Mavericks who has quickly emerged as one of the NBA's most exciting young players.

LeBron James

The superstar forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, who finished with 38 points in the losing effort.

Dallas Mavericks

The NBA team that defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 134-128 behind a career-high 45 points from rookie Cooper Flagg.

Los Angeles Lakers

The NBA team that lost to the Dallas Mavericks despite a strong performance from superstar LeBron James.

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What they’re saying

“Cooper Flagg is the real deal. He's got a bright future ahead of him in this league.”

— LeBron James

“I'm just trying to go out there and compete every night. It's an honor to be on the same court as guys like LeBron.”

— Cooper Flagg, Mavericks Rookie

What’s next

The Mavericks will look to build on this momentum as they continue their playoff push, while the Lakers will try to regroup and get back on track.

The takeaway

Cooper Flagg's breakout performance against the Lakers is a testament to his immense talent and potential, and has the Mavericks and their fans excited about the future of the franchise.