Cooper Flagg's Surge Can't Save Mavericks vs. Wizards

Merlin sees Dallas dropping a 117–107 home loss to Washington, but the real headline is rookie Cooper Flagg’s promise in game two. Flagg finished with 18 points, five rebounds and six assists, erupting in the fourth with a thunderous dunk to pull the Mavericks within four — even as he also turned it over five times and Dallas fell to 0–2. Merlin notes a pattern: quiet first halves, electric finishes and raw defensive flashes. The turnovers and inconsistent veteran support keep this team from clicking, but Flagg’s late-game bursts offer a spine for growth. If Dallas steadies its vets and trims mistakes, those sparks could kindle a deeper run.