Nuggets 118, Mavs 109: Cooper Flagg sprains his ankle

With 6:01 left in the second quarter, Cooper Flagg landed awkwardly on his ankle.

Flagg rolled on the floor in pain while grabbing at his ankle, and the American Airlines Center fell nearly silent aside from a few Mavericks fans grimacing.

Flagg returned before halftime but was clearly laboring. The newly 19-year-old had also twisted his left ankle in Dallas’ win against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday and returned in that game as well.

However, Flagg did not take the floor to start the third quarter. He was removed from the starting lineup, was not on the bench, and was ruled out with a left ankle sprain moments after officially ending his night.

Flagg has been one of the few bright spots for Mavericks fans, with Anthony Davis expected to miss approximately six weeks with a left hand injury and no update available on Kyrie Irving’s injury timeline. Ryan Nembhard, who finished with five points and four assists, replaced Flagg in the starting lineup to open the third quarter.

Without Flagg for the second half, Dallas lost 118-109 to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center.