Mavericks in trouble with slew of injuries

MEMPHIS: The Dallas Mavericks loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday may just be the tip of the iceberg, as the team has suffered a slew of injuries leaving them without a star to bear the scoring burden.

Kyrie Irving was absent from Dallas’ 15-point loss to Memphis, as the 2016 NBA champion was out with a bulging disc according to Shams Charania. The injury, which Mavericks staff have called a lumbar strain, will side-line Irving for at least one to two weeks according to Shams.

If the injury is a lumbar strain, which occurs when tendons in the back are overstretched and possibly torn, the recovery timeline given seems reasonable. However, if it is really a bulging disc, the Mavericks star may see more time off than is being reported, possibly four to six weeks.

Irving has been leading the Mavericks since their number one option, Luka Doncic, was side-lined after Christmas due to a left calf strain. Dallas has struggled without their star, losing five of the six games they have played since Doncic’s departure. He will be re-evaluated near the end of the month.

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Daniel Gafford is also injured. The Maverick’s centre is out with an ankle sprain, which forced Gafford out of the game against the Grizzlies early into the second quarter. Gafford had an awkward landing after contesting a rebound, which led to him turning his left ankle. His status is currently listed as day-to-day.

The Mavericks could now possibly face the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday with three key pieces missing. Despite the poor stretch from the Mavericks, they remain in the sixth spot in the Western Conference, with 20 wins and 16 losses to their name. But, with no end in sight to their loss streak, they may soon drop into the play-in positions.

It is an unfortunate turn of events considering the strives the Mavericks made since mid-November. Since, and including, their game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 17, Dallas won 14 of their 18 games until Doncic suffered his injury.

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