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Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks are waiting for Kyrie Irving to return.
The Dallas Mavericks and the Orlando Magic battled in Central Florida on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
The game marked the highly anticipated return of the rookie phenom, Cooper Flagg.
For weeks, Flagg has been dealing with a midfoot sprain. The rookie forward went down in early February and missed time through the All-Star break and beyond.
After getting upgraded to questionable on the injury report against the Orlando Magic, Flagg was officially cleared to return just hours before the game. He checked in for 26 minutes.
How Did Cooper Flagg Look vs Orlando Magic?
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GettyDallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg returned on Thursday.
Jason Kidd commented on his star rookie’s performance shortly after the game concluded via the Dallas Morning News:
“I thought for Coop being out for over 3 weeks, I thought he looked good on both ends. He made plays down the stretch. Had some big blocks during the game. I think he’s trying to find his legs. I thought he got his legs in the second half. Had a good look down the stretch. Just didn’t go down for him. But the group played on the road and was in a position to win.”
More Mavericks News: Mavericks Announce Cooper Flagg’s Minutes Restriction vs Magic
During his 26-minute shift, Flagg shot 7-22 from the field. He made one of his five shots from beyond the arc and went 3-3 from the free-throw line. The rookie finished the game with 18 points.
NBA Shooting Audit
Cooper Flagg vs. Orlando Magic 3/5/2026
18 PTS | 7-22 FG | L 114-115
Beyond his scoring, Flagg produced six assists to just two turnovers. He also came down with five rebounds. Flagg wrapped up the outing as a minus-four.
The Mavericks came up short against the Magic. It was a tight 115-114 loss.
Will Cooper Flagg Stay On The Floor?
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2026 in New York City. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Mavericks don’t have much time to rest after leaving Orlando.
On Friday night, the Mavs will take on the Boston Celtics on the road at TD Garden, As expected, Flagg’s status for the game has not been revealed just yet. The team will likely wait and see how his foot responds to the 25-plus minutes he played on Thursday.
Before Thursday’s game, Flagg’s last showing occurred on February 10 against the Phoenix Suns. Flagg was in the game for 35 minutes. He shot 8-20 from the field, scoring 27 points.
After getting ruled out moving forward, the Mavericks played in eight-straight games without their star rookie. As expected, they struggled, winning just two of those matchups. Heading into Orlando, the Mavs were in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
Even with Flagg back in the fold, the Mavs came up short and made it five in a row. Dallas falls to 21-41 with that loss. They remain 12th in the Western Conference, trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by multiple games.
The Mavs will be back on the floor for a 7 PM ET tip on March 6.