Dallas Mavericks Center Daniel Gafford will miss for at least six weeks with a grade of 3 MCL sprain. ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim Macmahon was the first to report.
It was previously confirmed that Gafford would be evaluated again within a few weeks and would remain in place until at least 25 February. The last update confirms that he will not return before the end of March.
These are difficult times for MAVS fans, there are apparently no postponement in the bad news department since the Luka Doncic Trade.
Anthony Davis is expected to miss a considerable time with an adductor tribe, although he does not need any operation. Dereck Lively II still has to deal with a judge single stress fracture and will be again evaluated in mid -March.
Dwight Powell missed the last 14 games with a tense hip.
It seems more and more likely that, even if Dallas makes the late season, this will do without any feeling of continuity with the new look selection. It will also have to do this without all his most important big men for the most part of the rest of the season.
Gafford just played a number of his best basketball, on average 14.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in the month of January.
Mavs still find ways to overcome injuries
Despite the increasing injury list, Dallas has won four of the last five games. The four victories came against the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat. The last victory over the heat came with Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson also resting.
The only loss was a defeat with one point in extension against the Sacramento Kings. Gafford sustained his injury in this game.
Irving has been absolutely sensational since the Doncian trade, on average 27.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals.
Against Golden State, Irving saw his all-world the best with 42 points, including 7-of-10 shooting from outside the arch.
Kyrie’s highlights from tonight against the Warriors 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 pic.twitter.com/f2lxy8ef6o
– Kyrie Center (@KyrieCenterig) February 13, 2025
Fan frustration will be an uniting force?
There has been a lot of tension in the aftermath of the Doncian trade last week.
The criticism of Nico Harrison and the team governors has reached the point of fans who sing ‘Fire Nico’. The only way to overcome frustration is to win.
The regular seasonal victories are one thing and the MAVs are still only eighth in the west with a record of 30-26. With everything that happened, it is a deep play -off run that these fans want.
Without his two front line centers and the face of whom Doncic replaces, it will be difficult to believe in that kind of ceiling.
