DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have announced that center Daniel Gafford will be sidelined for a minimum of two weeks due to a sprained right knee sustained during a recent game against the Sacramento Kings. This setback leaves the team without its four primary big men, amplifying the challenges they face following Anthony Davis’ groin injury, which he incurred just two days earlier in his debut with the Mavericks.
On Tuesday, the Mavericks confirmed that Gafford will undergo a re-evaluation in two weeks. His injury occurred during the second quarter of Monday night’s overtime loss, where he collided knee-to-knee with Kings guard Malik Monk while contesting a play at midcourt. Gafford’s absence compounds the Mavericks’ struggles, as they already were missing key players.
Alongside Gafford, the team is dealing with significant injuries to Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Dwight Powell. Davis, who suffered a groin strain during a victory over the Houston Rockets, will be out of action until at least the All-Star break. His recent trade to the Mavericks had generated excitement but now leaves the team missing his contributions.
Dereck Lively II continues to recover from a stress fracture in his ankle, which he sustained on January 14 against Denver and is not expected back for several weeks. Meanwhile, veteran Dwight Powell is also on the injury list with a hip strain. Coach Jason Kidd provided no updates regarding Powell’s condition after the recent loss to Sacramento, opting to skip his postgame media obligations.
At present, Kylor Kelley stands as the sole available center for the Mavericks. The 27-year-old rookie is under a two-way contract and has appeared in just five games to date. In the most recent match against the Kings, he managed to play only one minute. As the team looks ahead, they are set to face the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, followed by a matchup with the Miami Heat on Thursday, right before the All-Star break.
