Jason Kidd slams referees after late no-call on Cooper Flagg

Two days aft mounting a franchise rookie scoring record, Cooper Flagg delivered different standout show with 34 points connected Saturday night. However, the Dallas Mavericks near Houston with a 111-107 loss, and caput manager Jason Kidd focused little connected Flagg’s scoring and much connected what helium saw arsenic a captious officiating nonaccomplishment precocious successful the game.

With 25 seconds near and Dallas trailing by two, Flagg drove to the handbasket and missed a contested layup that would person tied the score. Kidd believed the rookie was fouled and did not fell his vexation afterward.

“I saw a foul,” Kidd said. “[Officials] Sean [Wright], Simone [Jelks] and Jason [Goldenberg] were atrocious tonight. The referees were unacceptable. It's a foul, and helium needs to beryllium astatine the escaped propulsion line. Now, does helium marque both? That's up to the player, but the referees did not bash their job. They were terrible.”

Flagg continues historical rookie stretch

Flagg followed up his 49-point outing against Charlotte by attacking the overgarment again against Houston. He finished 13-of-25 from the tract and went 11-of-17 successful the paint. According to ESPN Research, his combined 50 overgarment points implicit the two-game span are the astir by a rookie successful the play-by-play era, which began successful 1997-98.

“He's figured it out,” Rockets prima Kevin Durant said. “He understands that he's pugnacious to stop.”

On the precocious possession that drew Kidd’s ire, Flagg drove near against Amen Thompson, absorbed contact, and fell to the level arsenic the changeable missed. Flagg acknowledged the interaction but stayed measured.

“I decidedly felt immoderate contact, but astatine the extremity of the day, the refs are the ones making the call, truthful it is what it is,” Flagg said. “I mean, it's tough. You conscionable got to play done it. It's portion of the game.”

Trust grows contempt missed calls

Flagg added 12 rebounds and 5 assists, becoming the lone teen with consecutive 30-point double-doubles. He went 7-of-10 from the line, conscionable the 5th clip this play helium has reached double-digit escaped propulsion attempts.

“There's a batch of fouls missed with this young man,” Kidd said. “He's going to proceed to support driving.”

Flagg appreciated his coach’s support. “I consciousness similar JK has a batch of spot successful me, and I person a batch of spot successful him,” helium said. “That's conscionable having my back.”