Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg (ankle) listed as doubtful vs. Jazz

DALLAS — Mavericks newcomer Cooper Flagg is marked as doubtful for the home contest on Thursday evening against the Utah Jazz because of a left ankle sprain.

The sole game that Flagg, the top draft pick, has missed this season was due to illness during a Nov. 19 defeat against the New York Knicks.

Flagg incurred the injury during the second quarter of Wednesday’s defeat to the Denver Nuggets.

Flagg twisted his ankle while guarding Denver’s Peyton Watson on a drive with 6:01 left in the second quarter.

Flagg, who was charged with a foul on that play, hobbled off the court and directly into the tunnel with Mavs athletic trainer Jana Austin trailing him. He came back onto the court with 2:35 remaining in the quarter but grimaced several times while playing through the remainder of the quarter.

Flagg did not come back after halftime. The team announced early in the third quarter that Flagg, the Rookie of the Year frontrunner who averages 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, had been ruled out for the rest of the game.

This marked the second straight game that Flagg twisted that ankle. He had returned in Monday’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets after having the ankle re-taped.