NBA UPDATE: COOPER FLAGG SIDELINED WITH FOOT INJURY; DALLAS HEADS TO INDIANA FOR REDEMPTION
NBA news: Mavs vs Pacers. Get the full injury report on Cooper Flagg, Daniel Gafford, and Dallas's fight to save their 2026 season.
Cooper Flagg, wearing Dallas Mavericks blue, heads back up the court during a game against the Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Centre. That was November 12, 2025, back when things didn’t feel so heavy.
Now, the Mavericks are packing their bags for Indianapolis, dragging a losing streak that’s stretched on for a month. Ten straight losses. The roster’s been gutted by injuries and bad luck. It’s been a rough stretch, but the team keeps scrapping.
The second half of the season didn’t bring any relief. Dallas dropped another one on Friday, falling 122-111 to the Timberwolves. That makes ten in a row. Their last win? You have to flip back to January 22nd.
Next up: a visit to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to take on the Pacers. The latest injury report? It’s not pretty.
Flagg’s Status for Sunday’s Game
Cooper Flagg won’t play on Sunday. His foot injury keeps him out, just like it did Friday in Minnesota. That hurts. Flagg was putting up 20.4 points a night before he went down, running the show as Dallas’s main scorer and the guy this team is trying to build around. They’re hoping he’ll be back after the All-Star break, but that’s still a wait.
He’s not the only one hurting. Daniel Gafford is questionable with an ankle issue. Max Christie's is also questionable with the same problem. Caleb Martin looks more likely to play, even with his own ankle injury.
What the Mavericks Need in Indiana
Khris Middleton has been the one steady hand lately. He dropped 18 points in Minnesota and keeps shouldering more responsibility than anyone expected when he signed here. He’s handling it like a pro who’s been through tough times before.
P.J. Washington had a rough night against the Wolves, going just 5-of-17 from the floor for 12 points. With Flagg out, Dallas needs him to be efficient, not just busy. They can’t afford another off night from one of their main options.
Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson have to chip in more, too. Thompson actually caught fire late in Minnesota, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter and nearly dragging Dallas back into it. That kind of spark can’t wait until the game’s almost over.
Marvin Bagley has quietly put together two double-doubles in the last four games. He’ll try to keep that rolling.
What Indiana Brings on Sunday
The Pacers aren’t doing much better. They’re 15-42, dead last in the East, and just lost twice in a row to the Wizards.
Their injury report is a laundry list, one of the league’s longest. Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell: all questionable.
Siakam hasn’t played since the All-Star break ended, and without him, their defence has been a mess. Indiana’s searching for answers in a season that’s gone off the rails.
So Sunday, you’ve got two struggling teams meeting at a crossroads. Both need a win. Only one will get it.
Final Word for the Mavericks
Ten straight losses. The best player on the sideline. A team that keeps fighting but keeps coming up short.
But Sunday? This is a real chance. Indiana’s banged up, shaky on defence, and just dropped two straight. The Pacers are right there for the taking.
Dallas has Middleton, Washington, Thompson, and 48 minutes to snap this streak. If they want it, it’s there.
MILLION DOLLAR BET: LOGAN PAUL’S OPEN CHALLENGE TO THE NFL BACKFIRES AS BELL ACCEPTS
Logan Paul is ducking: Read about Le’Veon Bell’s $1M challenge, Tom Brady’s "cute" insult, and the Pittsburgh Draft fight rumours.
A former NFL star just called out Logan Paul, saying he’s dodging their $1 million fight.
So here’s what’s been going on: Logan Paul, who’s held the WWE United States Championship, got into it with NFL legend Tom Brady. Brady kicked things off by saying pro wrestling is “cute” and throwing shade at Paul’s athleticism compared to NFL players.
Logan didn’t let that slide. He fired back, claiming 99% of NFL players would fall apart if they tried wrestling in WWE, and then flipped the script by calling football "cute". Things really heated up when Brady straight-up called him a b*tch, and Logan decided to up the ante.
On his IMPAULSIVE podcast, Logan claimed no football player could beat him in a boxing match. He even put $1 million on the line, daring any NFL player to prove him wrong. A bunch of NFL guys jumped in, but Le’Veon Bell, a former Steelers star and a pro boxer himself, really took the bait.
Bell challenged Logan to fight in Pittsburgh during the 2026 NFL draft. He didn’t hold back, posting, “STOP DUCKING, @LoganPaul. Bro’s trying to fight an NFL player that’s never fought before. Let’s set it up; we all heard you say you can beat any NFL player. We can fight in April; the NFL draft is in PITTSBURGH. Let’s make it happen.”
Logan fired back. He pointed out that Bell isn’t in the NFL anymore, and since Bell actually knows how to fight, Logan said he’d need serious training time, which means stepping away from WWE, something he’s not willing to do. Plus, Logan claimed the fight isn’t worth it because Bell doesn’t draw a big crowd. “You’re not in the NFL. You can actually fight, so I’d have to properly train and step away from WWE (which I’m not doing, especially not for you). There’s no money here because you’re not a draw. Prove me wrong. Of course, you want the opportunity. I’m a goldmine for retirees like you. But gg,” Logan replied.
Bell wasn’t having it. He accused Logan of ducking out, saying Logan’s only interested in fighting NFL players with zero boxing experience. “THIS MF A (duck emoji) bro said, 'You can actually fight,' so he’s telling everyone he wants to fight someone who he feels can’t fight. That’s what we call DUCKING,” Bell shot back.
THIRD FASTEST EVER? HOW DID JAYSON TATUM BEAT KEVIN DURANT’S RECOVERY BY 254 DAYS?
Jayson Tatum is back: Read about his 298-day Achilles recovery, the 15-minute limit, and why the Celtics are now title favourites.
Jayson Tatum sat at the Auerbach Center, listening to questions from reporters during Celtics media day, looking like he was itching to get back on the court.
The Celtics’ star forward is finally on the verge of returning after tearing his Achilles less than 300 days ago, but don’t expect to see him logging big minutes right away. Reports say Boston plans to be extra cautious. Brett Siegel from ClutchPoints even said he’d be surprised if Tatum plays more than 10 to 15 minutes per game at first.
Tatum’s officially listed as questionable for Friday’s home game against the Mavericks. If he suits up, it'll be a huge boost for Boston, and honestly, a bit of a shock, considering how long other players have been out with the same injury. Just look at Dejounte Murray; he had to wait nearly 100 days longer than Tatum before coming back, and the Pelicans have limited him to 25 minutes a night since.
At the start of the season, most people figured Tatum would sit out the whole year. That’s what usually happens with Achilles injuries; guys like Durant, Klay, and DeMarcus Cousins all missed at least a year. Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton, who tore their Achilles in last year’s playoffs too, were ruled out for the entire season.
But then whispers started. Suddenly, Tatum was practising with the G League’s Maine Celtics, then joining full scrimmages with the big club. The rumours got louder, and now, here we are. If he does play Friday, he’ll have pulled off the third-fastest return from an Achilles tear in recent NBA history; only Kobe Bryant and Chauncey Billups came back quicker.
Here’s a quick rundown:
Kobe Bryant: 240 days
Chauncey Billups: 296 days
Jayson Tatum: 298 days
DeMarcus Cousins: 357 days
Kevin Durant: 552 days
Of course, Boston isn’t taking any chances. Tatum had to hit every checkpoint – conditioning, weight, you name it – before they’d let him suit up. And by all accounts, he looks good. Derrick White said Tatum has been moving well and playing like his old self in practice. You can see how hard he’s worked to get to this point.
The Celtics are 41-21 and already one of the league’s best, but Tatum’s return suddenly makes them the favourites to win the East and push for another Finals trip. Oddsmakers have noticed, too. Thomas Gable at Borgata said Tatum’s comeback could give Boston’s title odds another bump, and David Lieberman at Caesars pointed out that bettors have already started to back the Celtics with his return in mind.
So, yeah, Boston fans have a lot to be excited about. Tatum’s almost back, and the Celtics’ championship hopes just got a whole lot brighter.
