Mavs' Cooper Flagg (shoulder) exits vs. Pacers after hard foul - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — A jarring flagrant foul knocked Cooper Flagg awkwardly to the floor and eventually out of the game Friday night.

Now it's unclear whether the Dallas Mavericks star will miss more time.

Last season's NBA Rookie of the Year did not play in the second half of Dallas' 121-105 victory Friday night over the Indiana Pacers after landing hard on his left shoulder after Aaron Nesmith tried to block his shot from behind to prevent a breakaway dunk.

Instead, Flagg landed hard on his shoulder, the same one he injured as a rookie.

«Cooper has left shoulder soreness, he'll be evaluated in the next couple of days,» Mavericks coach Dusty May said before addressing whether Flagg needed an MRI. «I really don't know. I saw him in the locker room, he's in good spirits. We'll know in the next couple days what's next.»

Flagg did not speak to reporters following the game. The Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, the second night of a back-to-back.

Flagg was off to a fast start in his second pro season. Two days after scoring 32 points to become the highest scoring teenager in a season opener in league history, Flagg was on pace for his first triple-double of the season. He finished with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists in 17 minutes.

But it was how he left that had everyone talking and scuffling as Mavericks players came to the defense of their hurting teammate.

Forward Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith — who was assessed a flagrant 1 for the foul on Flagg — under the basket, drawing players from both teams into a brief fray. After a replay review, the refs assessed double technical fouls to Nesmith and Marshall. Flagg then made 1 of 2 free throws and continued to rub his shoulder as he walked toward the