Cooper Flagg landed hard on his left shoulder and never returned after halftime. Aaron Nesmith had tried to block his shot from behind. Dallas spent the second half finishing a game its young forward could only leave unfinished.

The reported problem is left shoulder soreness. That establishes neither a more serious diagnosis nor a timetable for his return.

Kyrie Irving supplied 24 points as the Mavericks beat Indiana 121-105, spoiling Tyrese Haliburton’s home return. Haliburton got his welcome. Irving handled the eviction notice.

There is an expensive little irony underneath that rescue. In August, we wrote about a Dallas front office divided over Irving’s future after failing to trade him. On Friday, the player Dallas had failed to move helped carry the team after Flagg left with shoulder soreness. Keeping talent has uses that an offseason argument can overlook.

Dallas hosts San Antonio on October 25. That is the next game Flagg’s shoulder must let him play.