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.
KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND
Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.
Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.
Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.
Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.
He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”
This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.
Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.
So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.
MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING
Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.
The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.
Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.
Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.
Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.
So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.
If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.
LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.
Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.