Cooper Flagg Flounders: Mavericks Fall to Ja-less Grizzlies

Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks dropped a 102-96 home loss to the Grizzlies, slipping to 5-13. Memphis played without Ja Morant, but Santi Aldama (20 points) and Zach Edey (12 and 15 rebounds) stepped up while “Flagg shot just 4-of-15,” finishing with 12 points and seven boards. Klay Thompson’s 22 off the bench (6-of-12 from deep) and a late defensive breakdown — plus Edey’s block on a potential game-winner — sealed Dallas’ fate. Merlin sees a young Mavs team fraying at the edges: offense sputters when Flagg can’t find a rhythm and defensive lapses cost late. This road trip to Miami will tell whether Flagg calms under pressure or the Mavericks spiral further.