NBA Injury Update: Los Angeles Clippers’ Mason Plumlee OUT vs. Dallas Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks have the worst offense and defense in the paint so far this season, but they’ll have one less talented big man to face Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers with Mason Plumlee set to miss time.

To say the Dallas Mavericks have struggled in the paint to start this season would be an understatement. Dallas ranks dead last in paint points (37.7) and paint points given up (61.7) per game.

This was on full display on Wednesday, as the Mavs were outscored 72-40 in the paid en route to a 127-116 loss to the Toronto Raptors at home. Head coach Jason Kidd was so disgusted with his frontcourt’s performance that he called his team “soft” after the game.

The Mavs will have their hands full yet again on Friday, as the new-look Los Angeles Clippers come to American Airlines Center in what will be Dallas’ second In-Season Tournament game. James Harden, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will be big threats to score in the paint given the Mavs’ size disadvantage on the wing, but Dallas could be catching a small break with one Clippers big man set to miss the game.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Mason Plumlee is expected to be sidelined for up to two months with an MCL sprain. In six games, the 11th-year veteran is averaging 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 63.2 percent from the field in 17 minutes per game.

Los Angeles Clippers center Mason Plumlee vs. Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis / Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

“You've got to give Toronto credit. They were aggressive. Again, understanding protecting the paint. They drove the ball. They dominated the glass and we've got to do a better job,” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said after his team’s disappointing loss on Wednesday.

“We missed [Dereck Lively II] a lot. There was no one in the paint tonight, and that just shows how important he is to our team. But it's the next-man-up mentality, and we just didn't do a good job on the perimeter or protecting the paint and rim."

Dereck Lively II missed the Mavs’ game against the Raptors due to an illness, but there is optimism that he will make his return to action on Friday against the Clippers’ weakened frontcourt. The Clippers have yet to win a game on the road this season, and the Mavs are hoping to keep it that way heading into the weekend.