On Wednesday night, Dallas will try to put aside its injury woes as it travels to San Antonio for a Western Conference matchup.
The latest injury update for Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs
The Mavericks’ recent losing streak consists of three games, all of which were defeats at the hands of Memphis during the weekend.
As of this writing (published on Monday), San Antonio had dropped three of their previous four games, and they were set to play Orlando on Tuesday night.
FOR THE MAVERICKS
With a 22-16 record after the first month of the season, Dallas was five games above.500 in the middle of February, but since then it has lost nine of its last 12 games.
At home, they beat San Antonio by a score of 142-116 on February 23 for one of their three victories that month.
With consecutive losses on Saturday and Monday to Memphis, the Mavericks enter this game on a three-game skid.
All-Star Luka Doncic has been ruled out for this game with a thigh injury and is not available for substitution. His absence will be felt greatly by the Mavericks since he averages 33 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8 assists a game, which is first in the league.
Not only is Doncic doubtful to play for Dallas because of a foot injury, but starting point guard Kyrie Irving is as well.
With 27.5 points and 6.6 assists per game, Irving is the Mavericks’ second-leading scorer. Christian Wood, the starting centre, is doubtful due to a foot injury, and veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. has a bruised calf and is uncertain to play.
Fourth in points scored (17.1) and second in rebounds grabbed (7.6), Wood is right behind Hardaway Jr. (#5 in points) (14.2).
Even though Dallas ranks 18th in the NBA in points per game (113), it will be playing with a depleted roster on Wednesday. It must overcome the league’s worst defence, San Antonio’s (122.0).1
THE MAVERICKS INJURIES
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Luka Doncic | Thigh |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 17
|
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | Calf |
Game Time Decision
|
| Christian Wood | Foot |
Game Time Decision
|
| Kyrie Irving | Foot |
Game Time Decision
|
FOR THE SPURS
On Sunday, San Antonio will wrap up a six-game homestand against Atlanta.
The Spurs stunned the Denver Nuggets 12.5-points last Friday to kick off their homestand with a win.
Unfortunately, they were unable to carry that energy into Sunday’s game, a 102-90 loss to Oklahoma City despite being a 4-point underdog.
When this article was written, the Spurs had won five straight games and were about to play Orlando on Tuesday night, when they had already made at least 10 3-pointers in a game.
This season, their inability to score goals has been a major problem, but their defence has been much worse.
With an average of 112.0 points per game, they enter the contest ranked 25th in scoring. As evidence, San Antonio’s leading scorer Keldon Johnson missed his fourth game in six due to injury on Tuesday.
Tre Jones, a guard, was sidelined for a second straight game due to illness, and Malaki Branham missed time with a shoulder injury.
Johnson averages 21.6 points and 4.9 boards per game to lead the Spurs, while Jones ranks in the top five in scoring (12.6). The Dallas Cowboys allow 113.1 points per game, good for 14th in the league.
THE SPURS INJURIES
| PLAYER | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Tre Jones | Illness |
Game Time Decision
|
| Charles Bassey | Kneecap |
Expected to be out until at least Oct 1
|
| Keldon Johnson | Foot |
Game Time Decision
|
| Romeo Langford | Thigh |
Game Time Decision
|
| Malaki Branham | Shoulder |
Game Time Decision
|
| Khem Birch | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
