Cooper Flagg Scores 43 as the Mavericks Rally Past Indiana and Kyrie Irving Adds 35: Why Dallas' Second-Year Star Is a Fantasy Cornerstone

Cooper Flagg took over Monday night in Dallas. The second-year forward scored 43 points with 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block as the Mavericks came back to beat the Indiana Pacers 125-122, according to ESPN's box score. The Associated Press credited him with 11 rebounds. Kyrie Irving added 35 points on the second night of his first back-to-back of the season.

Dallas trailed for much of the first half before finding its rhythm in the third quarter and pulling ahead. The Mavericks had to survive one last Indiana possession, an inbound from halfcourt down three, to finish off their third straight win. Dallas is now 7-4. Indiana fell to 3-8.

According to StatMuse, Flagg became the first teenager in NBA history with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals in a game. That's the kind of all-around stat line that makes him so valuable in fantasy basketball.

The box score that matters

Flagg's points will get the headlines, but the rest of his line is what separates him from other high-scoring forwards. Fantasy managers in category leagues should focus on the steals, the assists and the block.

This wasn't his highest-scoring game. Flagg dropped 51 against Orlando on April 3 as a rookie, the first 50-point game by a teenager in NBA history. What's different this season is how often he fills every category. Over the weekend, he posted a career-high 12 assists. On Monday, he followed it with 43 points. Players who can both score in bunches and run an offense are rare in fantasy, and they're almost always first- or second-round picks.

Why Flagg's fantasy value keeps rising

Three things are driving Flagg's rise in fantasy rankings.

Usage. Flagg is the focal point of Dallas' offense. That gives him a high floor every night, since the ball runs through him whether or not his shot is falling.

Playmaking. The assist numbers are new. Flagg has gone from a scorer who passes to a forward who can make plays for others, and that's important in points leagues and category leagues alike. A double-digit assist night from a forward is a sign that the coaching staff trusts him with the ball late in the shot clock.

Defense. Three steals and a block is a big night, but the more important point is that Flagg contributes on defense regularly. In nine-category leagues, steals and blocks are the hardest stats to find, and a forward who gives you both while scoring 25-plus is the definition of a fantasy cornerstone.

There's one thing to watch. Flagg dealt with left shoulder soreness after a hard foul in a win at Indiana in October. He hasn't missed much time since, but it's worth keeping an eye on given how much contact he takes driving to the basket.

Kyrie Irving's role next to Flagg

Irving's 35 points on the second night of a back-to-back is a good sign for his availability. Back-to-backs are where veteran guards tend to get rest days, and Irving playing both games and producing like this suggests Dallas isn't planning to limit him heavily yet.

For fantasy, the Flagg-Irving pairing works well for both players. Irving pulls defenders away and gives Flagg easier driving lanes, and Flagg's playmaking takes some of the ball-handling load off Irving. Both are clear starters in every format. If you need to know which one is more likely to get rest days, it's Irving. Plan ahead in weekly lineup leagues when Dallas has a back-to-back.

What it means for the Pacers

Indiana's 3-8 start is now a real concern. Monday's loss was another game the Pacers had in hand for long stretches before Dallas took over in the third quarter, and a team at 3-8 can't afford many more of those.

For fantasy, Indiana's struggles don't automatically hurt its starters. Losing teams still produce counting stats, and a team chasing games often plays faster and leans harder on its top options. The players to downgrade are the ones whose minutes depend on close, competitive games. If the Pacers keep falling behind, expect more minutes for younger players and fewer for the veterans at the end of the rotation.

For bettors, the useful pattern is that Indiana has been competitive early and vulnerable late in games like this one. That makes first-half lines on the Pacers worth a look compared with full-game numbers.

Betting and DFS angle

Dallas has won three straight, and the market is starting to price the Mavericks as a winning team. In DFS, Flagg's salary will go up after a 43-point game, but his combination of usage, assists and defensive stats means he can still return value at a higher price. He's the type of player to build around on nights when Dallas faces a fast-paced opponent.

For player props, Flagg's points-rebounds-assists line will probably move up after this game. The better value could be in his steals and blocks props, since those markets react more slowly to breakout games. For Verdexed's daily game-level view, see the NBA picks pages at /blog/nba-picks-2026-11-10 and the live board at /nba/predictions.

What to do in your league

If you have Flagg, you've got a cornerstone. Don't trade him unless you're getting a proven superstar in return. If you don't have him, it's worth asking what it would cost. Managers who drafted him as a second- or third-round pick may be willing to deal him for a proven veteran, which is a trade worth making right now.

For Irving, keep starting him and plan around possible rest days on back-to-backs. For the Pacers, stick with their starters for counting stats and watch whether the rotation shifts toward younger players if the losing continues.