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 evening in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves with seven rotational gamers on the harm record. The staff has been devastated by accidents this season, with Luka Doncic lacking time since Christmas and beginning middle Dereck Full of life II being dominated out for 2-3 months. As well as, gamers comparable to Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, and extra have been taking part in by means of accidents.
The Mavericks have been contenders for the highest seed within the West after the primary two months of the season. Nevertheless, their accidents during the last 30 days have seen the staff 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 must bounce again and play on the second evening of a back-to-back. This conflict will come in opposition to the OKC Thunder, the staff the Mavs have crushed twice this season and eradicated from the 2024 Playoffs.
After the loss to the Wolves, Kyrie Irving spoke concerning the staff’s back-to-back matchup in opposition to the OKC Thunder tonight and the budding rivalry between the franchises.
“All-out blitz, all-out warfare. Anytime we go up in opposition to OKC and play in opposition to a high MVP candidate like Shai and his staff, it’s going to be a really aggressive problem and one I’m trying ahead to.”
He revealed he may miss the conflict and supplied an replace on the standing of his again harm.
“TBD. Nice query, however TBD.”
“My again is feeling nice. God keen, it stays constant and I’ll proceed doing the little issues I’ve been doing within the weight room to take care of my well being and that I give myself one of the best probability to maintain that well being as an alternative of throwing myself on the market.”
The Mavericks will want Kyrie Irving on the courtroom to have any probability at defeating the Thunder.
Irving has averaged 21.7 factors and 5.3 assists in opposition to OKC in three video games this season, with the Mavs having two wins over them. In the event that they in some way pull this win off, they’ll be the one staff within the NBA to have received their season sequence in opposition to OKC this yr.
The Mavericks harm record proper now appears unreal contemplating how robust they seemed firstly of the yr. They’ve fallen off the wagon in January, constantly struggling in opposition to opponents on each ends of the courtroom.
They’re at present with out Luka Doncic (proper calf pressure), Dereck Full of life (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 sport. Doncic, Full of life, 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 take a seat 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 sport off. A loss will probably drop them nearer to the No. 11 seed, in order that they’ll hope they’ll proceed being the one staff who can constantly outplay OKC. Over their present 3-10 stretch, certainly one of their wins was over the Thunder.
Kyrie Irving is taking part in by means of a bulging disc in his again. The Mavericks won’t need to lose to OKC tonight however they’ll’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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