The Dallas Mavericks will go into their ‘Rivals Week’ clash with the OKC Thunder without multiple rotational contributors.
The Dallas Mavericks came into their 114-115 loss last night against the Minnesota Timberwolves with seven rotational players on the injury list. The team has been devastated by injuries this season, with Luka Doncic missing time since Christmas and starting center Dereck Lively II being ruled out for 2-3 months. In addition, players such as Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, and more have been playing through injuries.
The Mavericks were contenders for the top seed in the West after the first two months of the season. However, their injuries over the last 30 days have seen the team go 3-10 in their last 13 outings.
With the roster already hampered by injuries and dealing with the loss to the Wolves, the Mavericks will have to bounce back and play on the second night of a back-to-back. This clash will come against the OKC Thunder, the team the Mavs have beaten twice this season and eliminated from the 2024 Playoffs.
After the loss to the Wolves, Kyrie Irving spoke about the team’s back-to-back matchup against the OKC Thunder tonight and the budding rivalry between the franchises.
“All-out blitz, all-out warfare. Anytime we go up against OKC and play against a top MVP candidate like Shai and his team, it’s going to be a very competitive challenge and one I’m looking forward to.”
He revealed he might miss the clash and provided an update on the status of his back injury.
“TBD. Great question, but TBD.”
“My back is feeling great. God willing, it stays consistent and I’ll continue doing the little things I’ve been doing in the weight room to maintain my health and that I give myself the best chance to sustain that health instead of throwing myself out there.”
The Mavericks will need Kyrie Irving on the court to have any chance at defeating the Thunder.
Irving has averaged 21.7 points and 5.3 assists against OKC in three games this season, with the Mavs having two wins over them. If they somehow pull this win off, they’ll be the only team in the NBA to have won their season series against OKC this year.
The Mavericks injury list right now seems unreal considering how strong they looked at the start of the year. They’ve fallen off the wagon in January, consistently struggling against opponents on both ends of the court.
They are currently without Luka Doncic (right calf strain), Dereck Lively (right ankle stress fracture), Klay Thompson (left ankle sprain), Naji Marshall (illness), Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Dwight Powell (right hip strain), and Dante Exum (right wrist surgery).
It isn’t clear if any of these players will return for the Thunder game. Doncic, Lively, Powell, and Exum will surely not be playing given it doesn’t align with their announced injury timelines. However, if Kyrie has to sit out, the Mavs will essentially be playing a roster of backups and two-way contracts.
The No. 9 seed in the West also can’t afford to blow this game off. A loss will likely drop them closer to the No. 11 seed, so they’ll hope they can continue being the only team who can consistently outplay OKC. Over their current 3-10 stretch, one of their wins was over the Thunder.
Kyrie Irving is playing through a bulging disc in his back. The Mavericks might not want to lose to OKC tonight but they can’t afford to lose Irving to a long-term absence either. He’s averaging 24.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season, giving it his all in their loss to the Wolves by going off for 36 points (11-21 FG) and nine assists.
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