The Dallas Mavericks will go into their ‘Rivals Week’ conflict with the OKC Thunder with out a number of rotational contributors.
The Dallas Mavericks got here into their 114-115 loss final night time towards the Minnesota Timberwolves with seven rotational gamers on the harm record. The workforce has been devastated by accidents this season, with Luka Doncic lacking time since Christmas and beginning heart Dereck Vigorous II being dominated out for 2-3 months. As well as, gamers akin to Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, and extra have been taking part in by accidents.
The Mavericks had been contenders for the highest seed within the West after the primary two months of the season. Nevertheless, their accidents over the past 30 days have seen the workforce go 3-10 of their final 13 outings.
With the roster already hampered by accidents and coping with the loss to the Wolves, the Mavericks should bounce again and play on the second night time of a back-to-back. This conflict will come towards the OKC Thunder, the workforce the Mavs have overwhelmed twice this season and eradicated from the 2024 Playoffs.
After the loss to the Wolves, Kyrie Irving spoke concerning the workforce’s back-to-back matchup towards the OKC Thunder tonight and the budding rivalry between the franchises.
“All-out blitz, all-out warfare. Anytime we go up towards OKC and play towards a high MVP candidate like Shai and his workforce, it’s going to be a really aggressive problem and one I’m wanting ahead to.”
He revealed he may miss the conflict and offered an replace on the standing of his again harm.
“TBD. Nice query, however TBD.”
“My again is feeling nice. God prepared, it stays constant and I’ll proceed doing the little issues I’ve been doing within the weight room to keep up my well being and that I give myself the perfect probability to maintain that well being as an alternative of throwing myself on the market.”
The Mavericks will want Kyrie Irving on the court docket to have any probability at defeating the Thunder.
Irving has averaged 21.7 factors and 5.3 assists towards OKC in three video games this season, with the Mavs having two wins over them. In the event that they by some means pull this win off, they’ll be the one workforce within the NBA to have gained their season sequence towards OKC this yr.
The Mavericks harm record proper now appears unreal contemplating how sturdy they regarded firstly of the yr. They’ve fallen off the wagon in January, persistently struggling towards opponents on each ends of the court docket.
They’re presently with out Luka Doncic (proper calf pressure), Dereck Vigorous (proper ankle stress fracture), Klay Thompson (left ankle sprain), Naji Marshall (sickness), Jaden Hardy (proper ankle sprain), Dwight Powell (proper hip pressure), and Dante Exum (proper wrist surgical procedure).
It isn’t clear if any of those gamers will return for the Thunder recreation. Doncic, Vigorous, Powell, and Exum will certainly not be taking part in given it doesn’t align with their introduced harm timelines. Nevertheless, if Kyrie has to sit down out, the Mavs will primarily be taking part in a roster of backups and two-way contracts.
The No. 9 seed within the West can also’t afford to blow this recreation off. A loss will possible drop them nearer to the No. 11 seed, so that they’ll hope they will proceed being the one workforce who can persistently outplay OKC. Over their present 3-10 stretch, one among their wins was over the Thunder.
Kyrie Irving is taking part in by a bulging disc in his again. The Mavericks won’t need to lose to OKC tonight however they will’t afford to lose Irving to a long-term absence both. He’s averaging 24.5 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season, giving it his all of their loss to the Wolves by going off for 36 factors (11-21 FG) and 9 assists.
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