Already lacking prime scorers Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks had one other key rotation participant go down with an harm throughout Monday’s loss in Memphis.
With 8:26 left within the second quarter, middle Daniel Gafford turned his left ankle when he got here down on Grizzlies ahead John Konchar‘s foot whereas battling for a rebound. After a second on the ground in ache, Gafford limped to the locker room and didn’t return.
Talking to reporters after the sport, Kidd acknowledged that the crew expects to be with out Gafford for some time.
“A sprained ankle, I believe it’s, so we’ll see how he feels. However he’s in all probability going to be out for a while,” Kidd stated with a sigh. “That’s simply a part of the sport. Sadly, it’s occurring to us — it looks as if we’re shedding a man every day. So, next-man-up mentality.”
Gafford has shared middle duties with Dereck Lively this season, beginning 15 of 35 video games and averaging a career-high 11.7 factors per sport with a league-leading 71.8% area purpose share. He has additionally contributed 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 20.1 minutes per evening.
Gafford’s return timeline is unclear, however Maxi Kleber — who began Monday’s sport — figures to proceed taking part in an elevated function, with P.J. Washington seeing a while at middle in small-ball lineups. Veteran massive man Dwight Powell will even transfer up the depth chart in Gafford’s absence.
The shorthanded Mavericks will probably be trying to snap a five-game shedding streak once they host the Lakers on Tuesday on the second evening of a back-to-back set.
