Duke Advances to ACC Semifinals Despite Flagg, Brown Injuries

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Duke Advances to ACC Semifinals Despite Flagg, Brown Injuries \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ No. 1 Duke secured a 78-70 victory over Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals despite losing star Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown to injuries. Kon Knueppel led the Blue Devils with 28 points, while Isaiah Evans and Khaman Maluach added 14 each. Duke overcame a slow start and now moves on to face North Carolina in the semifinals.

Duke Overcomes Injuries to Advance in ACC Tournament: Quick Looks

Knueppel’s Dominant Performance: The freshman scored 28 points to lead Duke past Georgia Tech.
Flagg and Brown Injured: Duke’s star Cooper Flagg (ankle) and Maliq Brown (shoulder) exited the game early.
Duke’s Slow Start: The Blue Devils missed their first 13 three-pointers and trailed 26-12 before rallying.
Georgia Tech’s Key Performer: Duncan Powell led the Yellow Jackets with 24 points.
Second-Half Surge: Duke outscored Georgia Tech 28-12 after halftime to take control.
Key Moment: Knueppel’s three-point play with five minutes left pushed Duke’s lead to 11.
Next Matchup: Duke will face North Carolina in the ACC semifinals.

Deep Look

No. 1 Duke (29-3) fought through injuries to star Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown to secure a 78-70 victory over Georgia Tech (17-16) in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. Freshman Kon Knueppel stepped up with a career-high 28 points, helping the Blue Devils recover from a 14-point first-half deficit and advance to the semifinals against North Carolina.

While Duke’s win extended their nine-game winning streak, the night was overshadowed by Flagg’s potentially serious ankle injury and Brown’s shoulder issue, both of which forced them out of the game.

Early Struggles: Duke Falls Into Deep Hole

Duke entered the game as heavy favorites but got off to a disastrous start.

The Blue Devils missed their first 13 three-point attempts, allowing Georgia Tech to take control early.
The Yellow Jackets built a 26-12 lead, matching the largest deficit Duke has faced all season.
Even before Flagg’s injury, Duke was struggling offensively, failing to generate good looks against Georgia Tech’s aggressive defense.

Despite their shooting woes, Duke tightened up defensively and started to chip away at the lead. A late first-half push cut the deficit to five points at halftime (34-29), giving them momentum heading into the second half.

Flagg and Brown Injuries Shake Up Duke’s Game Plan

The biggest concern for Duke moving forward is the health of Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown.

Flagg’s Injury:
- Late in the first half, Flagg landed awkwardly on Georgia Tech’s Baye Ndongo’s foot while grabbing a rebound.
- The ACC Player of the Year immediately limped off and punched a chair on the Duke bench in frustration.
- Flagg was helped to the locker room but later returned to the bench without a walking boot, a hopeful sign for Duke fans. However, he did not return to the game.
Brown’s Injury:
- The sophomore went down with a shoulder injury in the first half and did not return.
- His physical presence in the paint was missed, especially against Georgia Tech’s Duncan Powell, who had a big scoring night.

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer has not provided an update on Flagg or Brown’s status for Friday’s game against North Carolina, leaving their availability uncertain.

Knueppel Leads the Second-Half Comeback

With Flagg and Brown out, Duke needed someone to step up offensively—and Kon Knueppel delivered.

The freshman guard erupted for 28 points, displaying his full scoring arsenal.
Knueppel attacked the basket with confidence, drawing fouls and finishing through contact.
He also broke Duke’s three-point drought, helping the team recover from its ice-cold start from deep.

After trailing by five at halftime, Duke dominated the opening stretch of the second half, outscoring Georgia Tech 28-12 to take control.

Tyrese Proctor ignited the run with a highlight-reel steal and one-handed dunk in transition.
Isaiah Evans and Khaman Maluach also stepped up, combining for 28 points as Duke finally found its offensive rhythm.
After missing their first 13 threes, the Blue Devils hit 7 of their final 17 from beyond the arc.

Key Moment: Knueppel Seals the Win

With five minutes left in the game, Duke led by eight but had not yet fully put Georgia Tech away.

That changed when Knueppel drove into the lane, finished through contact, and converted a three-point play, pushing Duke’s lead to 11 points.
The clutch play gave Duke breathing room and effectively ended Georgia Tech’s comeback hopes.

Georgia Tech’s Effort Falls Short

Despite the loss, Georgia Tech put up a strong fight behind a standout performance from Duncan Powell.

Powell led the Yellow Jackets with 24 points, keeping them in the game despite Duke’s second-half surge.
However, Georgia Tech’s bench was outscored 21-6, highlighting Duke’s superior depth.
The Yellow Jackets couldn’t handle Duke’s defensive pressure in the second half, leading to costly turnovers and missed opportunities.

Key Stats and Takeaways

Knueppel’s Career Night: 28 points on efficient shooting.
Duke’s Resilience: Overcame a 14-point deficit despite missing two key players.
Georgia Tech’s Collapse: Outscored 28-12 to start the second half.
Duke’s 3-Point Shooting Recovery: After a 0-for-13 start, the Blue Devils hit 7 of 17 to close the game.

What’s Next?

Georgia Tech: With a 17-16 record, the Yellow Jackets hope for an NIT bid but won’t be heading to the NCAA Tournament.
Duke: The Blue Devils advance to the ACC semifinals, where they will face North Carolina, who defeated Wake Forest 68-59.

The big question remains: Will Cooper Flagg be healthy enough to play against UNC? His status could be a major factor in determining Duke’s ACC and NCAA Tournament fate.