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.
DEXTER LAWRENCE TRADE REQUEST LOOMS OVER GIANTS' PREPARATIONS FOR PITTSBURGH NFL DRAFT
Dexter Lawrence wants out! Discover why the Giants are considering a trade before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
The New York Giants might have no choice but to trade Dexter Lawrence before the NFL Draft. Negotiations on a new contract with the star defender have hit a wall, and Lawrence already asked for a trade earlier this month. He's skipped the team’s first offseason practices under new head coach John Harbaugh, which hasn’t helped matters.
At this point, the Giants have been talking with several teams about a possible deal for Lawrence. With the draft coming up in Pittsburgh next week, the pressure is on. They need picks, and right now they only hold two selections in the top 100. Harbaugh’s trying to breathe new life into the roster, but he needs more draft capital to do it.
News of the stalled negotiations came just hours after GM Joe Schoen sounded pretty upbeat, saying talks had been "productive". He explained that he, Harbaugh, and senior VP Dawn Aponte were all in regular contact with Lawrence’s reps, looking for some kind of resolution. Schoen insisted they want Dexter to stay, but he admitted it’s out of their hands now. They’ll just have to see what happens.
Lawrence, 28, signed a four-year, $90 million extension last year. Since then, defensive contracts have exploded, so his deal has dropped to just 11th among league defenders. On top of that, the team’s shaken up its roster, letting go of many Lawrence’s close teammates like Saquon Barkley.
Lawrence has been with the Giants since they drafted him 17th overall in 2019. He’s played his whole seven-year career in New York, earning three trips to the Pro Bowl and two second-team All-Pro honours. His career stats include 30.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception. But last year wasn’t great; he only managed half a sack, eight QB hits, and a pass rush win rate of 8.3 per cent for a team that finished 4-13. It’s hard to tell if he’ll stay with the Giants much longer.
RORY MCILROY TARGETS SEVENTH MAJOR AT ARONIMINK FOLLOWING EMOTIONAL MASTERS DEFENSE
No long break for Rory McIlroy! After his 6th major win, McIlroy eyes the PGA Championship at Aronimink this May.
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Rory McIlroy isn’t following the same script after this Masters win. When reporters asked if he’d take another long break, as he did in 2025, Rory had a different plan in mind.
He’s not disappearing for months this time. Instead, he’s taking a couple of weeks off before jumping back into PGA Tour action. The next big event on the calendar is the PGA Championship, starting May 14 at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, but it sounds like Rory wants to get some tournament play before then.
He talked about his mindset shift after winning again at Augusta. “My schedule’s going to be different this year,” he said on April 13. “Last year, I thought winning the Grand Slam would be the destination. But actually, it’s just part of the ride. Now that I’ve won my sixth major, I feel great about my game and my body.
“I waited ages to win the Masters, and then I won two in a row. I definitely want to enjoy this. I’ll take a couple weeks off, but I don’t think I’ll hit that motivation lull I felt last year after the win.”
So, what comes next for Rory? He’s skipping the RBC Heritage this week, and his appearance at the Zurich Classic isn’t confirmed either.
Then, there’s Donald Trump, who might’ve let the cat out of the bag. After congratulating Rory on social media, Trump said he was looking forward to watching him at Doral during the Cadillac Championship on April 30. That’s not an official confirmation, but it’s a pretty solid clue that Rory’s next start could be there.
Now that he’s up to six majors and finally has back-to-back Masters titles, Rory’s thinking ahead. The next big stop? The PGA Championship, where he’ll chase number seven. But he’s not feeling satisfied just yet.
“I don’t want to put a hard number on it, but this is just part of the journey,” he said. “I’ve still got things I want to accomplish even as I make sure I enjoy the moment, too.”
