NBA Notes: Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Pelicans, Zion Williamson, Rockets

Mavericks

Rookie shine hasn’t disappeared for Cooper Flagg, but the grind is starting to show. After winning Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December for the second straight time, Flagg has hit what looks like his first real rookie wall, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.

“He’s playing a lot of minutes,” coach Jason Kidd said. “To touch that rookie wall and play through it is a positive.”

Flagg already has logged more minutes than he did all of last season at Duke and ranks among the league leaders in floor time. His shot has cooled over the past three games, but the production hasn’t vanished.

He’s still filling the box score with assists, rebounds and steals, even when the scoring isn’t there.

Pelicans

Zion Williamson is rolling again. The problem is almost everything else. Williamson dropped a season-high 35 points Friday, his third straight 30-plus outing, but New Orleans still lost its sixth consecutive game.

“He looks great,” interim coach James Borrego said, via Rod Walker of NOLA.com. “Mentally and physically, this is as strong as I’ve seen him in a while.”

The Pelicans remain short-handed, and the numbers are glaring. Since Borrego took over, New Orleans is competitive with Herb Jones available and struggles mightily without him. Borrego didn’t hide from that reality, even while stressing it can’t be an excuse.

Rockets

The Rockets finalized a two-way deal with Tristen Newton and waived Tyler Smith, the team announced.

Newton has been lighting up the G League and now gets another NBA look. If he sticks through midweek, his two-way deal becomes fully guaranteed.

Houston is betting that production eventually translates upward.