Cooper Flagg Returns, Hometown Buzz for Mavs-Celtics

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is NBA News Today. Subscribe to keep up with every headline, every game. The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for a key match-up against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, kicking off a long road trip. Exciting news hit just hours before tip-off. Star Rookie Cooper Flag is set to return after nearly a month sidelined by a left-foot sprain. Flag has been out since February 12th, missing eight games while the Mavericks posted a 2-in-6 record without him. He tried to bounce back during the All-Star break, but needed more time to heal fully. This 19-year-old phenom burst onto the scene early in the season, putting up just over 20 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4 points. One assists per game. His absence opened the door for teammate Khan Neopol to take the lead in the rookie of the year race, but Dallas has loved Flag's impact from day 1. The timing adds extra buzz with Flag's roots in Maine and the Mavericks facing the Boston Celtics on Friday. His first pro-game near home.

1:01Family and friends planned to pack TD Garden, and Jason Tatum might return from his Achilles issue that night too. Now the big question is whether Flag suits up for the back-to-back. The team will weigh his long-term health against playing in front of his hometown crowd, depending on his minutes Thursday. We'll know soon if Boston gets the full Flag experience. A message from our sponsor supports today's story. Your bedtime ritual just got better. Boston Sound, Built in Comfort, S-O-L-L-I, solelypillow.com