Cooper Flagg NBA Record Is Real. So Is Dallas’ Second-Quarter Disaster.

Cooper Flagg set an NBA record by scoring 32 points as a teenager in a season opener, but the Dallas Mavericks lost 128-110 to the Houston Rockets on October 21, 2026. Dallas faced an insurmountable 70-38 halftime deficit after Houston dominated the second quarter 38-12. The loss marked the largest halftime deficit in a head coach's debut game in NBA history for new Mavericks coach Dusty May.

Writer Edward Perovic notes that despite Flagg's individual scoring milestone, the forward was a minus-21 during the disastrous second quarter. Flagg contributed five rebounds, three steals, and two assists while shooting 10-of-17 from the field. Following the defeat, Flagg pointed to poor organization and a lack of leadership on the floor as primary reasons for Dallas falling apart against Houston.