Teenage sensation Cooper Flagg delivered a historic performance on Thursday night, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 40 or more points, even as the Dallas Mavericks fell 140-133 after overtime to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

The 18-year-old forward, selected first overall in this year’s NBA Draft, put on a spectacular show at the Delta Center, finishing with 42 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Flagg’s scoring outburst rewrote the record books and provided a rare bright spot for Dallas in an otherwise frustrating loss.

Historic night for the No.1 pick

With his 42-point effort, Flagg surpassed NBA legends by becoming the youngest player ever to reach the 40-point mark in a single game. Only Cliff Robinson (45), GG Jackson (44), and LeBron James (43) have scored more points in a game as teenagers.

Flagg also matched Mark Aguirre’s franchise record for most points by a Mavericks rookie in a single game. He is now just the third teenager in the NBA’s 79-year history, after LeBron James and Kevin Durant, to record 40 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the same game.

The performance came just days before Flagg’s 19th birthday, further underlining the scale of his achievement.

Mavericks let late lead slip

Dallas appeared in control for much of the night. The Mavericks led 75-71 at halftime, with Flagg already tallying 24 points, and later stretched their advantage to 124-116 late in the fourth quarter.

However, defensive lapses allowed Utah to claw back into the contest. The Jazz overturned the eight-point deficit to take a 129-127 lead, before Max Christie stepped to the line and calmly sank two free throws with under five seconds remaining to force overtime.

Jazz take over in overtime

Once in overtime, momentum swung decisively in Utah’s favour. The Jazz dominated the extra period, securing their 10th win of the season.

Keyonte George led Utah with 37 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 33, overpowering a Mavericks side that struggled to recover after surrendering control late in regulation.

The result leaves the Jazz 10th in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks sit 12th.

Who is Cooper Flagg?

Standing 6ft 8in, Flagg’s rise has been meteoric. He became the first freshman ever named Maine Player of the Year after leading Nokomis Regional High School to a state title in 2021.

He later transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, where his dominance earned him USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2022) and National High School Player of the Year (2024) honours. Flagg also played a key role in USA’s Under-17 World Cup triumph in 2022, earning all-tournament selection.

Before entering the NBA, Flagg starred at Duke University, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the 2024–25 season. Duke reached the Final Four, and Flagg was named National College Player of the Year.

Since making his NBA debut for Dallas against the San Antonio Spurs in October, Flagg is averaging 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across his first 25 games.

A star moment, even in defeat

While the loss will sting for Dallas, Cooper Flagg’s performance offered a glimpse of a special future. On a night when history was made, the teenager showed why he was the No.1 pick—and why the NBA’s next era may already have its newest star.

Christmas night belonged to Nikola Jokic once again. On what Nuggets fans proudly call “Jokmas,” the reigning MVP delivered one of the most dominant performances of the NBA season as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Houston Rockets 128-125 in overtime at Ball Arena.

Jokic finished with an extraordinary 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, recording a triple-double that carried Denver through a tense, physical contest. When Jokic fouled out in overtime, Jamal Murray stepped into the spotlight, sealing the victory with clutch shot-making and poise under pressure.

Murray closes after Jokic fouls out

Jokic’s night nearly ended in heartbreak after his potential game-winning three-pointer at the end of regulation rattled off the back iron. Still, Denver entered overtime with momentum.

After Jokic picked up his sixth foul early in the extra period, the responsibility shifted to Murray. The veteran guard delivered, finishing with 35 points, including key buckets that kept Houston at bay.

The Rockets had one last chance to force double overtime, but Alperen Sengun’s game-tying three-point attempt missed late, allowing Denver to escape with the win.

Bench sparks Denver early

The Nuggets did not start the game with urgency, particularly in the first quarter. However, Denver’s bench unit flipped the script.

An early injury to Peyton Watson (right hip contusion) forced coach Michael Malone to adjust his rotation, bringing Zeke Nnaji into extended minutes. Nnaji responded with energy and solid defense, helping stabilize the second unit.

Jonas Valanciunas was dominant inside early, scoring 8 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting in the first half. Tim Hardaway Jr. added offensive punch, finishing the half with 10 points.

Notably, Denver was +4 in non-Jokic minutes during the first half, compared to just +1 when Jokic was on the floor, underscoring the bench’s importance.

Defensive surge in the second quarter

Denver’s defense came alive in the second quarter, holding Houston to just 21 points. The Rockets grew increasingly frustrated with officiating, resulting in technical fouls on both head coach Ime Udoka and Sengun.

That frustration played into Denver’s hands. The Nuggets seized control of the tempo and carried a 58-51 lead into halftime.

Fourth-quarter duel: Jokic vs Sengun

The final quarter turned into a heavyweight battle between Jokic and Sengun after Valanciunas fouled out midway through the fourth.

Jokic took over, scoring relentlessly from the post, midrange, and perimeter. He reached 37 points before attempting the potential game-winner in the final seconds of regulation.

Sengun responded shot-for-shot, keeping Houston alive, but Jokic’s presence dictated every possession until overtime.

A Jokmas classic

Though Jokic fouled out before the finish, his imprint was unmistakable. Murray’s late heroics ensured that Jokmas ended the way Denver fans hoped — with a dramatic victory.

The Nuggets showed resilience, depth, and star power, surviving a dangerous Rockets team in one of the most entertaining games of the NBA season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers once again proved that Monday nights at home belong to them. Playing in freezing 17-degree conditions at Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers defeated the Miami Dolphins 28-15, extending their remarkable Monday Night Football home winning streak to 23 games and tightening their grip on the AFC North with just three games left in the regular season.

The victory moved Pittsburgh to 8-6, keeping them atop the division and in control of the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture.

Aaron Rodgers delivers in prime time

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season, completing 23 of 27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Calm, composed, and in complete control, Rodgers looked comfortable throughout the night despite the brutal weather conditions.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been part of stuff like this,” Rodgers said after the game. “Nothing changes. I feel really comfortable in this environment.”

Rodgers last appeared in the playoffs in 2021, and Monday’s performance suggested a quarterback rediscovering his postseason edge at the perfect time.

Balanced Steelers offense overwhelms Miami

Pittsburgh’s offense clicked on all fronts. Running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren combined for 113 rushing yards, keeping Miami’s defense off balance.

In the passing game, DK Metcalf and Marquez Valdes-Scantling both found the end zone. Valdes-Scantling hauled in a 19-yard touchdown early in the third quarter, while Metcalf delivered the highlight of the night with a 28-yard touchdown run after catch, breaking multiple tackles to stretch the lead.

Tight end Connor Heyward added Pittsburgh’s first score late in the second quarter, taking a direct snap and powering into the end zone from the one-yard line in a classic goal-line push.

Dolphins struggle again in cold weather

The night followed a familiar script for the Dolphins, who have long struggled in cold-weather games. Miami managed just three points before the fourth quarter, a Riley Patterson field goal with just over five minutes left in the first half.

From that moment on, the game swung entirely in Pittsburgh’s favor. The Steelers rattled off 28 consecutive points, while Miami’s offense completely stalled.

During a disastrous third quarter, the Dolphins recorded minus-20 total yards, and by the start of the fourth quarter, they had just five first downs.

Game effectively over early in fourth quarter

Any remaining suspense ended when tight end Jonnu Smith rushed 14 yards into the end zone early in the fourth quarter, pushing the Steelers’ lead to 28-3 with 13 minutes remaining.

Miami added two late consolation touchdowns through quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who threw a pair of scoring passes to Darren Waller. Tagovailoa finished the night 22 of 28 for 253 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception.

But the late surge did little to change the outcome.

Dolphins eliminated, Steelers march on

The loss dropped Miami to 6-8, officially eliminating the Dolphins from playoff contention.

“It’s disappointing we didn’t get the outcome we wanted,” Tagovailoa said afterward. “When you start the season the way we did, we made it hard on ourselves.”

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s win further solidified their division lead as they look to fend off the Baltimore Ravens down the stretch.

Mike Tomlin answers critics

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin took a moment to reflect on the significance of the win, especially after facing criticism just weeks earlier.

“Man, we love Monday Night Football. Mission accomplished,” Tomlin said. “We didn’t expect it to be easy, but once we got it going, we had a bit of fluidity.”

The victory came just two weeks after chants calling for Tomlin’s dismissal echoed through the stadium following a loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Playoff picture coming into focus

Despite an up-and-down season, the Steelers find themselves in a strong position as the postseason approaches. With momentum building, a dominant home-field identity on Monday nights, and Rodgers rounding into form, Pittsburgh is peaking at the right time.