"A referee merchant", "Butterfingers": Fans unimpressed with Cooper Flagg despite Duke star's dominant game vs Johni Broome's Auburn

No. 9 Duke's freshman phenom Cooper Flagg showed out during his team's matchup against No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday night. Flagg finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Blue Devils' 84-78 victory, handing the Tigers their first defeat of the season.

However, some fans were unhappy with Flagg's handling of pressure situations and the referees' calls going his way.

With four seconds left on the clock and Duke clinging to a six-point lead, Flagg committed a goaltending violation that allowed Auburn to cut the lead to four points. He blocked Auburn's Chaney Johnson's layup attempt after the ball had already hit the backboard.

Here are some of the reactions from X:

"Cooper Flagg with the butterfingers at the end of games again," one user wrote with a rolling eyes emoji.

"Soon as clutch time hits, Cooper Flagg get butter fingers smh," another one tweeted.

"Cooper Flagg needs to be better in late game situations. #GoDuke," a Blue Devils fan chimed in.

Here are a few more reactions:

"Cooper Flagg is a referee merchant," one user said.

"These refs gonna tuck Cooper Flagg in and read him a bedtime story tonight or what," the same user added.

"How much did duke pay the refs? Enough. That was a crazy game let the boys play. Neutral site or home we f--k that team. Cooper Flagg 7/18 have fun in china you are so s--t," a fan fumed.

"Just took my dog outside and a ref blew a whistle and called me for a foul on Cooper Flagg," another tweet read.

Cooper Flagg and Duke get their sixth win of the season

Despite setbacks to No. 4 Kentucky and No. 1 Kansas, the Blue Devils have shown remarkable resilience this season, emerging victorious in six of their first eight games.

Cooper Flagg, the standout freshman, has been instrumental in Duke’s success, leading the team in scoring (16.6 per game), rebounding (8.6 per game) and assists (4.1 per game).

Against Johni Broome's Auburn in the ACC-SEC Challenge at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Flagg recorded his third double-double of the season, posting 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting with 11 rebounds.

The 6-foot-9 forward exploded for a career-high 26 points in a defeat to the Wildcats earlier in the campaign. The Blue Devils (6-2) will travel to Louisville, KY, to take on the Cardinals on Sunday as they look to extend their string of victories.