Flagg's 49 Points Set Teen Record in Mavericks Loss

Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg etched his name into NBA history Thursday night, becoming the first teenager to score 49 points in a game despite the Dallas Mavericks' 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center. The 19-year-old forward surpassed the previous mark of 45 points set by Cliff Robinson in 1980 for the New Jersey Nets against the Detroit Pistons.

Flagg's outburst came in his 43rd appearance of the season, where he also grabbed 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. He shot 20 of 29 from the field, including a three-pointer that tied the score at 121 with 33.5 seconds left. However, Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel sealed the victory by making two free throws after being fouled by Flagg at the rim with 4.1 seconds remaining. Flagg's final attempt, a jumper over a double-team, missed as time expired, leaving him one point shy of 50.

The performance broke the Mavericks' single-game rookie scoring record, which Flagg had shared at 42 points with Mark Aguirre after a previous outing against Utah on December 15. Aguirre's jersey was retired at halftime, adding to the night's significance. "Mark Aguirre is special. Such a special night for him and...