After finally snapping a four-game losing streak, the Dallas Mavericks’ attention now shifts to the injury report heading into Monday’s home matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Anthony Davis (left calf strain) and Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain) are listed as questionable, while Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) is doubtful. Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) and Danté Exum (right knee injury management) remain out.
The Mavericks (3–7) are looking to build on Saturday’s 111–105 win over the Washington Wizards — a much-needed breakthrough powered by Naji Marshall’s season-high 30 points and balanced contributions from P.J. Washington, Cooper Flagg, and Brandon Williams.
“Things obviously haven’t gone extremely well for us so far. It isn’t the start we’ve been looking for,” Flagg said after the win. “All we can do is stay positive and move forward and continue to take steps in the right direction.”
Anthony Davis’ Return Still Uncertain
Davis has missed five consecutive games due to a left calf strain but continues to make steady progress. He traveled with the team on its two-game road trip and has increased his on-court activity, though the team remains cautious.
“He seems in good spirits, and I think he’s doing fine health-wise,” head coach Jason Kidd said last week. “So we’ll see.”
Before the injury, Davis averaged 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in five games while anchoring the Mavericks’ defense and interior scoring. His presence could be vital as Dallas faces Milwaukee’s frontcourt led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner.
Daniel Gafford Trending in the Right Direction
Daniel Gafford returned to action Saturday after briefly exiting Friday’s loss to Memphis with ankle soreness. The 6-foot-10 center tested the injury pregame in Washington and suited up, helping Dallas control the paint in the second half.
“Back-to-backs are tough, just the mentality to how you approach it,” Gafford said. “You’re going to be tired, you’re going to be fatigued — depending on how the game went the night before. But the most important game is the game you played the day of.”
After missing the first five games of the season with the same ankle injury, Gafford has been on a minutes restriction but has looked increasingly comfortable.
“There’s been times throughout the last couple of games where they talked to me and said they were going to raise them up,” Gafford said. “But honestly, it’s really just kind of throughout the course of the game and just going throughout the flow — that’s kind of when they’ll let me know.”
Gafford said he’s determined to “hold it down” until Davis and Lively are fully cleared.
“We were in the same situation last year,” Gafford said. “I told them: ‘Hey look man, y’all take time to get y’all bodies right and make sure y’all get back healthy to where y’all feel like y’all are at 100 percent, and I’ll hold it down as much as I can for y’all.’”
Dereck Lively II Nearing a Return
Dereck Lively II continues to recover from a right knee sprain that has sidelined him since late October. The Mavericks have taken a careful approach with their young big man, who averaged 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists through three games before the injury.
His doubtful designation marks continued progress, but the team has not provided a firm timeline for his return.
Danté Exum and Kyrie Irving Remain Out
Veteran guard Danté Exum remains sidelined as he continues to manage a right knee issue that has prevented him from making his season debut.
Kidd said over the weekend that Exum is still being re-evaluated, with no definitive timetable in place.
“That’s a great question,” Kidd told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “He’s getting re-evaluated, and we’ll see how that goes.”
Exum averaged 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20 games last season, providing defense and steady secondary playmaking. His absence, combined with Irving’s ongoing recovery from knee surgery, has forced the Mavericks to rely heavily on Brandon Williams, D’Angelo Russell, and Ryan Nembhard in the backcourt.
Klay Thompson (illness) also missed Saturday’s game, further thinning the guard rotation, though he’s no longer on the injury report. He will be available to play unless he’s a late addition to the injury report again, which there are presently no indications of that occurring.
Dallas Mavericks Looking to Build on Momentum
Saturday’s win in Washington offered a glimpse of the Mavericks’ potential when they play with pace and connectivity. Marshall and Flagg emphasized the importance of carrying that same energy forward into Monday’s matchup against Milwaukee.
“We’ve hit adversity, and sometimes you try to fix it all at once,” Marshall said. “It can be hard mentally, but it’s about trusting your work, trusting your teammates and coaches, and going out there and balling like you know how to.”
The Bucks (6–3) enter the game riding a four-game winning streak and featuring one of the NBA’s most dominant frontcourts. Dallas will look to extend its home success — where it’s 2–3 this season — as it continues a four-game homestand.