Tensions absolutely boiled over in Indianapolis tonight. Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith dropped Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg with a nasty Flagrant 1 foul late in the first half of their home opener, an opener where the Pacers were already getting blown out.
The Foul That Blew Up The Half
Flagg was on a breakaway, going for a bucket that would have extended the Mavericks’ lead even further when Nesmith smacked him from behind while Flagg was in the air. Flagg stayed down on the baseline for an extended period, and multiple Mavericks players immediately confronted Nesmith. Nesmith, who was playing his first game of the year after missing the opener on Wednesday, was slapped with a Flagrant 1 foul and a technical foul. Mavericks forward Naji Marshall also picked up a technical foul in the skirmish.
Flagg Walks Off, Mavs Up Big
After the dust settled, Flagg stepped up and made both free throws. But the real concern came next: Flagg walked straight back to the locker room, holding his left shoulder. He had been having a strong half, racking up 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists before the incident. The Mavericks went into the break leading 77-43.
The Mavericks may have had a comfortable 34-point lead going into halftime, but the bigger question now hangs over Cooper Flagg’s left shoulder. We’ll be watching closely for updates on this whole messy situation.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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