The Dallas Mavericks launched a furious 25-4 run in the fourth quarter to shrink the Thunder lead to one point, but Oklahoma City eventually prevailed, 101-94. During most of that run, however, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd opted to have Flagg on the bench in favor of backup point guard D’Angelo Russell.
With 8:14 left to play in the fourth, Kidd subbed in Russell and kept Flagg on the bench, inserting him back in the game only for defensive possessions down the stretch. The next time Flagg entered the game was with 1:25 left to play.
“It wasn’t his night tonight,” Kidd told reporters after the game. “We’re a team, so understand that the group that was out there put us in the position to win the game. He wasn’t on the floor, but he was cheering for his teammates.”
Flagg struggled in the game, shooting just 1-of-9, and scoring just 2 points with 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 0 assists. He posted a game-low plus-minus of -20.
While he was on the bench during the second half, trainers wrapped a heat pack around his shoulder, which he favored at various times throughout the game.
Flagg played just 4:32 in the final quarter, and said he had no issue with Kidd’s decision to keep him on the bench for most of the fourth.
“The way the game was going, we had a group out there that was doing really well and was on a run, so I see where (Kidd) was at with that,” Flagg said. “I was flat. I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t impacting the game at a high level, wasn’t doing the right stuff. So obviously, that’s an easy decision for Coach. He was just out there trying to win the game.”
Flagg said he thought he hurt his left shoulder during a boxout early in the first quarter.
“We’re probably going to get some scans, make sure everything’s all clean, but I feel like it’s just a little sore,” Flagg said after the game. “I just want to keep an eye on it, ice it, do some rehab and it should be good to go.”
The Mavericks fell to 1-3 and will play the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Flagg expressed optimism about being available for the game.