Mavericks center Dereck Lively suffered a right ankle sprain in the first quarter of Tuesday’s loss to Denver, causing him to exit the game after just four minutes. X-rays on Lively’s ankle were negative, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link), but a return timeline has yet to be established for the second-year big man.
Lively and Kyrie Irving, who is dealing with a bulging disc in his back, were both sidelined for Wednesday’s loss in New Orleans, notes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Here’s more on the Mavericks:
- Speaking of Irving, one of the people he’s been leaning on for advice for the back issue is assistant coach Jared Dudley, a longtime former player who dealt with a back problem during his career. “I had a back injury, and mine was more severe; I had back surgery,” Dudley told Grant Afseth and Rashad Miller of DallasHoopsJournal.com (Substack link). “Kyrie’s injury is less serious than mine, but with any back injury, it’s usually the nerve that’s affected. There’s a technique called nerve gliding that helps the nerve get back on track. Kyrie will need to do that and also follow a core regimen to keep everything stable. He’s already someone who follows a routine, so it’s just about continuing that.”
- The Mavs dropped their third straight game on Wednesday, losing to the lowly Pelicans in controversial fashion, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. Trailing by one point with 15 seconds remaining, Dallas forced Jordan Hawkins into a turnover and had a fast break opportunity. With about five seconds left, Spencer Dinwiddie‘s layup attempt hit the backboard and then was goaltended by Trey Murphy, but the officials didn’t call it (YouTube link). The NBA’s last two-minute report acknowledged that the referees missed the call, tweets MacMahon.
- In a radio appearance on 96.7 The Ticket, Mavs GM Nico Harrison said the team was unlikely to file a protest for the loss, relays Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). “You can do an appeal but if you do it, you have to spend some money,” Harrison said. “It might make you feel good, but it’s not going to change the outcome. Refs make mistakes. It’s frustrating. … It is what it is. You have to move on to the next game.” Marc Stein confirms (via Twitter) that the Mavs will not file an official protest with the league.
My prediction:
Celtics face the Mavs in the finals AGAIN 2025
Last year, they acquired P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, which led them to the NBA Finals.
Heat are as cheap as Lakers on trade offer.
If I were Riley, I would offer Butler and a First for Irving and any fillers, Mavs would then ship sway Hear First/players for another good player
Average 3-point % = nearly 40% (5 players average totals)
Irving
Klay
Washington
Grimes
Hardy
All of them are over 37% 3PT
Thunder have 2 big mem – Chet and Hartenstein
Mavs have 3 big Men – Gafford, Washington and Lively
P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford are 3 times stronger than Chet and Hartenstein. They can easily push them away.
I hear jonas valanciunas is available for cheap. Would it make sense for mavs to trade maxi for him (or flip him for 2nds to send to wizards). Usually lively plays 4-5 min then gafford in. Once lively goes back in maybe he can go in at PF. Mavs been talking about him shooting more 3s. Then you can have lively and gafford/jonas in the game at same time. With 2 7 footers in the game, mavs won’t give up as many off. Rebounds as they are allowing now. Dirk and tyson worked maybe lively and gafford will work