Dallas Mavericks rookie and Maine native Cooper Flagg made NBA history in back-to-back games, improving his case for Rookie of the Year with less than a week to go in the regular season.Flagg scored a career-high 51 points against the Orlando Magic on Friday, becoming the youngest player ever to score 50 or more points in an NBA game at 19 years old and 103 days old. He is the first teenager in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a game, and just the ninth rookie to score at least 50 points in a game.”I think it’s cool. I think it just speaks to who I am and the confidence I have in myself,” Flagg said after Friday’s game. “I’ve just been grinding and getting better all year long, and staying focused on myself and this team and just trying to get better. That’s all I can do.”Flagg also recorded six rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block against the Magic, who defeated the Mavericks 138-127. Despite the loss, Flagg was showered with praise and water by his teammates and then received the game ball from head coach Jason Kidd.On Sunday, Flagg scored 45 points in a 134-128 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the youngest player in NBA history to score 45 or more points in consecutive games. Flagg became only the second rookie to score 95 or more points over a two-game span, joining NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain.Flagg also came close to recording a triple-double against the Lakers. He finished with nine assists and eight rebounds while adding two steals and a blocked shot. The NBA said Flagg is the youngest player to record 45 or more points, five or more rebounds and five or more assists in a game.Sunday’s game against the Lakers also marked Flagg’s fourth career game with 40 or more points, passing LeBron James for the most 40-point games by a teenager in NBA history. James, in his 23rd season, finished with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers against the Mavericks. Flagg and James, 41, are the first players in NBA history to each score 30 or more points in the same game with one player age 40 or older and the other a teenager.”It’s really impressive, obviously, first of all, just to watch him and see him be able to do the things he’s doing out there,” Flagg said of James. “It’s a dream come true … being able to match up against somebody like that, the career that he’s had. He’s obviously one of the greatest, so it’s incredible.”According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Flagg overtook Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, his roommate at Duke University last year, as the betting favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year.Flagg and the Mavericks (25-53) have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Dallas has four more games remaining in the season. The Mavs have a three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers (Tuesday), Phoenix Suns (Wednesday) and San Antonio Spurs (Friday) before hosting the season finale against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.

PORTLAND, Maine —

Dallas Mavericks rookie and Maine native Cooper Flagg made NBA history in back-to-back games, improving his case for Rookie of the Year with less than a week to go in the regular season.

Flagg scored a career-high 51 points against the Orlando Magic on Friday, becoming the youngest player ever to score 50 or more points in an NBA game at 19 years old and 103 days old. He is the first teenager in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a game, and just the ninth rookie to score at least 50 points in a game.

“I think it’s cool. I think it just speaks to who I am and the confidence I have in myself,” Flagg said after Friday’s game. “I’ve just been grinding and getting better all year long, and staying focused on myself and this team and just trying to get better. That’s all I can do.”

Flagg also recorded six rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block against the Magic, who defeated the Mavericks 138-127. Despite the loss, Flagg was showered with praise and water by his teammates and then received the game ball from head coach Jason Kidd.

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On Sunday, Flagg scored 45 points in a 134-128 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the youngest player in NBA history to score 45 or more points in consecutive games. Flagg became only the second rookie to score 95 or more points over a two-game span, joining NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain.

Flagg also came close to recording a triple-double against the Lakers. He finished with nine assists and eight rebounds while adding two steals and a blocked shot. The NBA said Flagg is the youngest player to record 45 or more points, five or more rebounds and five or more assists in a game.

Sunday’s game against the Lakers also marked Flagg’s fourth career game with 40 or more points, passing LeBron James for the most 40-point games by a teenager in NBA history. James, in his 23rd season, finished with 30 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers against the Mavericks. Flagg and James, 41, are the first players in NBA history to each score 30 or more points in the same game with one player age 40 or older and the other a teenager.

“It’s really impressive, obviously, first of all, just to watch him and see him be able to do the things he’s doing out there,” Flagg said of James. “It’s a dream come true … being able to match up against somebody like that, the career that he’s had. He’s obviously one of the greatest, so it’s incredible.”

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Flagg overtook Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, his roommate at Duke University last year, as the betting favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year.

Flagg and the Mavericks (25-53) have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Dallas has four more games remaining in the season. The Mavs have a three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers (Tuesday), Phoenix Suns (Wednesday) and San Antonio Spurs (Friday) before hosting the season finale against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.