Dallas — The Dallas Mavericks and the NBA In-Season Tournament champion Los Angeles Lakers will play the second leg of a back-to-back. Both clubs might, meanwhile, be missing a number of well-known players.
The Mavs’ injury list is still lengthy ahead of their game against the Lakers, with Tim Hardaway Jr. (back spasms), Derrick Jones Jr. (left quad contusion), and Luka Doncic (low back contusion) all listed as questionable to play.
Josh Green (right elbow sprain), Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation), and Kyrie Irving (right heel contusion) have already been declared out by the team. Still, it was already anticipated that these players would be injured.
Despite playing 44 minutes against the Grizzlies, Doncic’s lower back was clearly bothering him when he took a hard fall early in the game. It hurt “a lot,” he said to reporters, and his knees swelled.
“It hurts like hell now,” he said. It hurts a lot, though I won’t admit that. My knees are like this swollen. I have to prepare for tomorrow.”
Grant Williams was struggling with a bone bruise to his right knee, and he is no longer on the Mavs’ injury report. Prior to the Grizzlies game on Monday, Kidd voiced hope that Williams will be able to participate in both games of the team’s two-game homestand.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd stated, “Hopefully, [Grant Williams] will be able to play on the homsetand.” “He’s had good workouts here of late, so hopefully, he’s back on one or two of the games we have at home.”
As Irving heals from a right heel contusion, there was “no update” available on Monday regarding a possible comeback date. There’s no more information available regarding Kleber or Green’s potential timelines.
LeBron James (left calf contusion) and Anthony Davis (left adductor hip spasm) are among the Lakers’ long list of injured players who may not be able to play against the Mavericks. With a left calf contusion, Jarred Vanderbilt is questionable, but Gave Vincent (left knee effusion) and Jalen Hood-Shifino (low back spasm) are already out.