Mavs Injury Update: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving OUT vs. T-Wolves; Full Details
DALLAS — After an exhilarating 131-129 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in their next game. The Mavs will be without various important players.
The Mavs will be without Luka Doncic (right ankle sprain), Kyrie Irving (right thumb sprain), and Dereck Lively II (broken nose) are all listed as out on the injury report the team submitted on Tuesday. Derrick Jones Jr. (left wrist sprain) and Dante Exum (right knee bursitis) are doubtful to play.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Doncic has recently played through issues with his right ankle and was moving hobbled late in the Mavs' win over the Magic. He was listed as dealing with "soreness" with his right ankle when he began Saturday as questionable to play against the Sacramento Kings before ultimately being ruled available. Now, it's listed as a "sprain."
Lively was hit in the face by Wendell Carter Jr. in clutch time, ultimately causing him to break his nose. It's common for players to wear a protective mask and continue to play through this type of injury while still recovering. The particular approach will be taken with it remains to be seen.
Jones has been sidelined since landing hard on his wrist after a failed dunk attempt against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. No information has been provided about a potential timetable for his return. Still, it's safe to say the Mavs should be grateful that he avoided a serious injury, given how the play developed.
Exum was not initially on the injury report before the loss against the Kings on Saturday but was a late scratch due to right knee soreness and has remained sidelined since. His injury designation has changed from "soreness" to "bursitis."
Irving's injury was revealed to reporters after the Mavs' 119-110 loss against the Boston Celtics on January 22. When mentioning how most NBA players are dealing with some injury or pain during the season, he sounded as though he was prepared to continue playing through it.
“I’m not going to make any excuses for myself,” Irving said on Monday. “It’s going to hurt. I don’t think anybody in the NBA is 100 percent night-to-night. So I’m not going to make any excuses.”
After mentioning he underwent an X-ray, Irving explained how he'd need to wear a "protective measure" like the brace he had on when speaking to reporters. However, it may have complicated the playing process with it being his dominant hand.
"Yeah, I got an X-ray right after the game. Our doctor said it's just a right-hand sprain," Irving said on Monday. "Just wear this as a protective measure and try to avoid people swiping down the next few games and put the ball in a shot pocket where they can't swipe down, and hopefully, I don't get injured again."
After defeating the Magic, the Mavs improved to 11-9 in 20 games played without Irving in the lineup this season. Doncic and Irving have only played together in 38 of 74 possible games during Irving's Mavs tenure, with the number being 22 of 47 games during their 2023-24 campaign.
The Timberwolves would not be an easy opponent, regardless of who is available to suit up for the Mavs. Minnesota has a 33-14 record, ranking first in the Western Conference standings, while 17-4 at home. The only team with fewer home losses is the Boston Celtics.
