After playing in his sixth NFL season, Las Vegas Raiders Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby showed appreciation for an incoming NBA rookie.

Even without Flagg and Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard, multiple Mavs showed sparks in Wednesday afternoon’s 90-82 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

While Flagg looked good with the ball in his hands, he looked better playing off it, and that will be more of his role in Dallas where D’Angelo Russell in the short term and Kyrie Irving long term (once healthy), not to mention Anthony Davis, will facilitate the offense most of the time.

The Mavericks shot just 2-of-14 from the field as a group and managed only 11 points in the first quarter. Their last field goal came at the 4:35 mark when Cooper Flagg made a contested layup. While shutting them down, the Spurs surged ahead to grab a 21-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Harrison then reiterated that the team doesn’t want Irving to rush back onto the court. While Irving’s out, key players like D’Angelo Russell (who attended Monday’s Mavericks-Hornets summer league game) will be expected to step up and run the offense.