Cooper Flagg's Ankle Injury Impacts Duke's March Madness Title Chances
Cooper Flagg, Duke's star freshman and projected #1 NBA Draft pick, suffered a serious ankle injury during the ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against Georgia Tech on Thursday. The injury occurred late in the first half, limiting him to just two points in 15 minutes of play before he was helped off the court.
NBA player falls during game
Despite Flagg's absence, Duke managed to secure a 78-70 victory. However, the injury's impact was immediately reflected in the betting markets. Duke, previously the outright favorite with +328 odds to win March Madness, temporarily disappeared from sportsbooks before returning with reduced odds.
Current March Madness championship odds at DraftKings:
- Auburn: +350 (new favorite)
- Duke: +360
- Houston: +700
- Florida: +700
The full extent of Flagg's injury remains unknown. He was later seen being transported in a wheelchair through the Spectrum Center corridors. This uncertainty has caused Duke's ACC Tournament futures to be removed from major sportsbooks, including DraftKings, FanDuel, ESPN Bet, Caesars, and BetMGM.
Duke, who entered as -300 favorites to win the ACC Tournament, will likely see further odds adjustments once Flagg's status for the remainder of the tournament is confirmed. The injury to the Wooden Award favorite could significantly impact Duke's championship aspirations in both the ACC and NCAA tournaments.
Cooper Flagg exited the game and was helped to the locker room after appearing to injure his left ankle in the first half against Georgia Tech. pic.twitter.com/EiUslVt0ZM
Cooper Flagg left the game in a wheelchairHoping he's okay pic.twitter.com/lmC5GXVm6U