Mavericks rookie Flagg exits early with sprained left ankle vs Nuggets

Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg left the Mavericks’ game against Denver in the second quarter with a sprained left ankle and did not return for the second half; he had earlier injured the same ankle two nights prior and scored 27 in a win over Brooklyn. Dallas was already dealing with injuries to frontcourt players, with Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II out, and center Daniel Gafford leaving later in the game with a right ankle sprain.