Clippers center Ivica Zubac is one of the NBA’s better rim protectors, but that didn’t stop Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg.
Early in the third quarter, Flagg rejected a screen from Dwight Powell, attacked downhill and rose up to posterize Zubac at the rim — a highlight dunk that echoed through the Intuit Dome.
It was just one of several statement plays Flagg delivered on his way to leading the Mavericks to a 114-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Flagg finished with 35 points and eight rebounds, pacing a Dallas offense that leaned on his aggression throughout the night. He was supported by Naji Marshall (18 points) and Brandon Williams (14 points and seven assists), both of whom provided needed scoring with the rotation thinned.
Dallas suffered a blow pregame when P.J. Washington injured his right ankle after landing on a stray basketball during warmups. He was pulled from the starting lineup, replaced by Marshall, and did not return after being diagnosed with a right ankle sprain.
There is no timetable yet for Washington’s availability for Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.
