Cooper Flagg recorded only two points in the first half against Georgia Tech before exiting the game with an ankle injury. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
A big second-half performance powered a Cooper Flagg-less Duke past Georgia Tech in Thursday’s ACC tournament quarterfinal in Charlotte.
The No. 1 Blue Devils (29-3) found their shooting rhythm in the final 20 minutes after a poor first half showing en route to a 78-70 win over the Yellow Jackets (17-16).
Duke completed the second-half comeback without the services of Flagg, who left the game late in the first half after injuring his ankle following a rebound.
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With the Blue Devils trailing, Flagg grabbed a rebound and landed awkwardly. After spending time on the bench getting treatment, he left for the Duke locker room needing assistance.
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Flagg was taken for further examination and for x-rays in a wheelchair by medical staff and later ruled “doubtful” to return.
Early in the second half, Flagg exited the Duke locker room not wearing a boot and able to walk on his own. He would find a seat on the Blue Devils’ bench where he would watch the remainder of the game.
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Flagg recorded only two points on 1-of-7 shooting before his injury.
Duke trailed Georgia Tech 31-26 at the half after missing their first 13 3-point attempts and going 36.7% from the field. That all changed over the final 20 minutes where they outscored the Yellow Jackets 52-39 and finished the game shooting 23.3% from 3-point range and 43.5% from the field.
Duke’s Kon Knueppel led all players with 28 points. Khaman Maluach and Isaiah Evans each added 14 points for the Blue Devils.
The 18-year-old Flagg is projected to be the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA Draft. In his freshman season with Duke he was named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year and voted first-team All-ACC and to the ACC All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams.
Duke will next face the winner of Wake Forest and North Carolina in Friday’s semifinal.
