Cooper Flagg Questionable for Monday After Flagrant Foul Leads to Shoulder Sprain

Cooper Flagg is officially questionable for Monday's game with a left shoulder sprain, which is the Dallas Mavericks' polite way of saying they'd prefer their franchise cornerstone not turn a sore arm into a structural crisis.

According to Underdog NBA, the reigning Rookie of the Year is on the fence after taking a hard hit on a flagrant foul against the Indiana Pacers. The collision forced him out of the game and straight into the MRI tube, where scans revealed a mild sprain.

"Flagg told reporters his shoulder is 'a little sore' but expects to be 'good to go.'"

Flagg himself told reporters the shoulder is just "a little sore" and expects to be "good to go." Of course, athletes always think they are good to go. If you asked a guy with a severed limb if he could play the fourth quarter, he'd just ask for some athletic tape. But the Mavericks' medical staff is the one actually holding the keys to the car.

Dallas desperately needs Flagg on the floor. The second-year forward is the engine of this roster, but he's already dealt with some bumps and bruises this season. When he's right, he's a walking mismatch. When he's banged up, his shooting splits start looking like a bad night at the blackjack table—he recently posted a stretch shooting 34 percent from the field and 25 percent from deep after returning from a previous injury.

Bettors eyeing his props for Monday will want to keep a close watch on the shootaround reports. A compromised Flagg usually means a heavy dose of secondary options stepping up to fill the void, which completely shifts the math for the Mavericks' offense.

We'll see if head coach Dusty May lets him suit up or if the Mavs decide to wrap their star in bubble wrap for the night. Expect a final decision closer to tip-off, but don't be shocked if Dallas plays the long game here.