Mavs at Nuggets Preview: Is Kyrie Irving OUT? Injury Update

The Dallas Mavericks play the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Wednesday night. Will Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving find themselves in the same dilemma operating in final-play situations?

The Dallas Mavs must find a way to get it together at the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. ... and they’ll have to do it without Kyrie Irving.

Although the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving duo has averaged 62 points since it debuted vs. the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 11, Dallas is 0-2 in that stretch. While the Nuggets don't deploy a dangerous defensive unit, the NBA's most efficient offense threatens the Mavericks. ...

And Kyrie is now listed as "OUT'' with lower back tightness.

While Dallas holds a 2-1 advantage over Denver for the season, the one loss suffered came in a one-point game on Nov. 20, 2022. In light of the Mavs' recent issues in clutch time, the elephant in the room stares at Jason Kidd, Doncic, and Irving. Whether it's the "wrong" player taking the shot or the superstar backcourt playing hot potato in the final seconds of regulation, Dallas must address the glaring problems.

In the last ten games, Denver is 6-4, with the two-time MVP Nikola Jokic leading the way. While not a dominant stretch, the Nuggets remain an offensive juggernaut and are the king of the hill of a superstar-filled Western Conference.

Playing in only one game so far vs. the Mavs this season, Jokic posted 19 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Unfortunately, for both teams, injuries remain a theme of the season. 

Davis Bertans (left calf strain), Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (right hamstring tightness) are out against Denver. Reggie Bullock (illness; non-COVID) is listed as probable; Christian Wood (illness;non-COVID) is slated as questionable for Wednesday's contest.

On the Nuggets' side, it's not any better. Aaron Gordon (left rib contusion) and Jamal Murray (right knee inflammation) are listed as questionable in the official NBA injury report. Backup center Zeke Nnaji is out due to a right shoulder sprain. 

Despite the injuries, the show must go on, and as long as the Nuggets have Jokic, they have a chance. And as recent history exposed, Dallas' late-game execution hindrance can always show up again.

FUN FACT: Kyrie Irving leads the league in fourth-quarter scoring 9.8 points per game.

RECORDS: Dallas Mavericks (31-28), Denver Nuggets (40-18)

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb.15, 2023 - 8:00 p.m. CT

WHERE: Ball Arena, (Denver, CO)

TV: Bally Sports Southwest, League Pass

RADIO: 97.1 The Freak

ODDS: The Nuggets are 4.5 favorites over the Mavs.     

NEXT UP: The Mavs play the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 23.

FINAL WORD: It's clear that Doncic and Irving respect each other. However, for the pair to work, they must simultaneously understand when it's time to bow out or take the game by the horns. In Monday night's closing seconds, Irving looked to dish to Doncic for the game-tying basket vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, as the game indicated, Irving earned the right to close as he scored 26 points in the fourth quarter. 

Aside from the final play from the players' standpoint, Kidd's coaching decision to sit Wood for the entire fourth quarter after scoring 24 points in the three previous periods remains a puzzling move. 

Ultimately, both the coaches and players have a few things to address vs. the Nuggets.

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