Despite the Dallas Mavericks' 133-140 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz, the game remains a significant milestone in rookie Cooper Flagg's career.

At just 18 years old, Flagler scored 42 points, delivering a performance that can be considered a career highlight. He not only broke multiple records but also further proved his value as the team's future core player.

In the first half, Flagg came out firing, scoring 24 points, a new personal high for points in any half. As the game progressed, his offensive aggression and consistency continued to improve, ultimately finishing with 42 points, becoming the fourth rookie in Mavericks history to score 40+ points in a single game.

More importantly, Flagg became the youngest and first 18-year-old player in NBA history to score 40 points in a single game, surpassing LeBron James' long-held record for the most points scored by a player under 19.

Besides his scoring outburst, Flagg also displayed well-rounded statistics. He contributed 7 rebounds and 6 assists in this game, becoming only the fifth rookie in the past 15 years to achieve 40 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single game, demonstrating a game-control ability far beyond his years.

After the game, Flagg said in an interview, "I have improved a lot since the beginning of the season, so I am proud of my performance in the fourth quarter. I am getting more and more used to this league, slowly finding my rhythm, being myself, and letting the game happen naturally."

Recently, Flagg's performance has been steadily improving. As the number one draft pick, he has averaged 25.7 points per game in his last seven games and leads the NBA's official rookie rankings. With several key players sidelined, he has gradually become one of the Mavericks' most reliable offensive options.