The Dallas Mavericks will likely be with out a number of rotational contributors heading into the Rivals Week recreation in opposition to the OKC Thunder.
Final evening, the Dallas Mavericks misplaced 114-115 to the Minnesota Timberwolves with seven rotation gamers on injured reserve. Accidents have plagued the group this season, with Luka Doncic out since Christmas and beginning heart Derek Full of life II out for 2 to a few months. Plus, gamers like Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington are taking part in via accidents.
The Mavericks are a contender for the highest seed within the West after the primary two months of the season. Nevertheless, resulting from accidents over the previous 30 days, the group is now 3-10 in its final 13 video games.
With a roster already disrupted by accidents and the loss to the Timberwolves, the Mavericks might want to bounce again and play on the second evening of a back-to-back. This matchup will likely be in opposition to the OKC Thunder, a group the Mavs beat twice this season and had been eradicated from the 2024 playoffs.
After the loss to the Wolves, Kyrie Irving spoke about his group’s back-to-back recreation tonight in opposition to the OKC Thunder and the budding rivalry between the franchises.
“All-out assault, all-out warfare. Anytime we play in opposition to OKC and play in opposition to a high MVP candidate like Shai and his group, it’ll be a really aggressive problem and I am trying ahead to it.” There’s.”
He revealed that he could miss this recreation and offered an replace on the standing of his again damage.
“Undecided. Nice query, however undecided.”
“My again feels nice. God keen, it is constant and I will proceed to do the little issues I am doing within the weight room to remain wholesome and never throw myself on the market. I’ll give myself the very best alternative to remain wholesome.”
The Mavericks will want Kyrie Irving on the courtroom to have any likelihood of defeating the Thunder.
Irving is averaging 21.7 factors and 5.3 assists in three video games in opposition to OKC this season, and the Mavs have received twice in opposition to OKC. If they’ll by some means pull off this win, they’ll turn out to be the one group within the NBA this 12 months to win a season sequence in opposition to OKC.
The Mavericks’ damage record at this level appears unrealistic contemplating how robust they had been firstly of the 12 months. They slumped in January and constantly struggled in opposition to opponents on each ends of the courtroom.
At present, Luka Doncic (proper calf sprain), Derek Full of life (proper ankle stress fracture), Klay Thompson (left ankle sprain), Naji Marshall (sickness), Jaden Hardy (proper ankle sprain) , Dwight Powell (proper hip sprain) is out. , Dante Exum (proper wrist surgical procedure).
It’s unclear whether or not any of those gamers will return for the sport in opposition to the Thunder. Doncic, Full of life, Powell, and Exum are sure to not play as they do not match their introduced damage schedules. Nevertheless, if Kyrie has to sit down out, the Mavs will mainly be taking part in on a roster of reserve gamers and two-way contracts.
The No. 9 seed within the West cannot afford to blow this recreation away both. In the event that they lose, they’ll doubtless be nearer to the eleventh seed, in order that they hope to stay the one group that may constantly beat OKC. At present at 3-10, one in every of their wins was in opposition to the Thunder.
Kyrie Irving is taking part in via a bulging disc in his again. The Mavericks could not wish to lose to OKC tonight, however they can not afford to lose Irving to an prolonged absence. This season, he’s averaging 24.5 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, and within the loss to the Timberwolves, he gave his all and recorded 36 factors (11-21 FG) and 9 assists.
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