Cooper Flagg’s Defense Applauded by Mavs Fans vs. Jazz as Ace Bailey Suffers Injury

Dallas Mavericks fans got their third look at rookie Cooper Flagg on Monday as the Mavs beat the Utah Jazz 114-101 in the NBA preseason.

In the grand scheme of things, Flagg’s third preseason game will likely be forgotten, but he showed some flashes of what’s to come. The No. 1 overall pick had 11 points, seven boards, two steals and a pair of blocks in the win.

He struggled to find his shot, hitting just three of his 13 attempts from the field and one of his six shots from deep, but that’s to be expected for a young player still adjusting to the NBA game.

Jazz fans were hoping to see more of Ace Bailey after the No. 5 pick impressed in his first two preseason games, but he played just 11 minutes before exiting with knee soreness.

With Bailey out for most of the game, Flagg was the story of the night. Fans applauded the 18-year-old as he continues to figure things out, taking note of what he did on the defensive end.

Flagg hasn’t done much to impress on offense in three preseason games, but that shouldn’t be a huge concern. For now, the Mavs just want to see him get comfortable going up against NBA talent, and his shots will eventually start to fall.

Even if he isn’t a major threat on offense, it seems like he’ll be a reliable defender from the jump.

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