While in San Antonio for a Western Conference showdown on Wednesday night, Dallas will aim to push its injury issues out of its mind in the hopes of gaining a victory.
An update on the injuries suffered by the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks
At home, they beat San Antonio by a score of 142-116 on February 23 for one of their three victories that month.
On Sunday, San Antonio will wrap up a six-game homestand against Atlanta.
The Spurs upset the Denver Nuggets 12.5-points last Friday to open off their homestand with a win.
Unfortunately, they were unable to carry that energy into Sunday’s game, a 102-90 loss to Oklahoma City despite being a 4-point underdog.
When this article was written, the Spurs had won five straight games and were about to play Orlando on Tuesday night, when they had already made at least 10 3-pointers in a game.
Their poor defensive play has been even more of an issue this season than their goal-scoring woes.
With an average of 112.0 points per game, they enter the contest ranked 25th in scoring. As evidence, San Antonio’s leading scorer Keldon Johnson missed his fourth game in six due to injury on Tuesday.
Johnson averages 21.6 points and 4.9 boards per game to lead the Spurs, while Jones sits in the top five in scoring (12.6). The 113.1 points per game surrendered by the Dallas Cowboys ranks 14th in the league.
Malaki Branham’s shoulder injury kept him out of action, and guard Tre Jones sat out for a second consecutive game with illness.
Keldon Johnson (foot) won’t play in Tuesday’s game over the Magic, Jeff Garcia of KENS 5 San Antonio reports.
Johnson will miss his second straight game Tuesday due to left foot soreness. Keita Bates-Diop and Doug McDermott should continue to see increased roles in his absence. Johnson’s next chance to suit up is Wednesday’s matchup with Dallas.
The San Antonio Spurs currently have the following players on their injury list:
- Tre Jones (Illness): Game Time Decision
- Charles Bassey (Kneecap): Expected to be out until at least Oct 1
- Keldon Johnson (Foot): Game Time Decision
- Romeo Langford (Thigh): Game Time Decision
- Malaki Branham (Shoulder): Game Time Decision
- Khem Birch (Knee): Game Time Decision
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Three of the most recent four losses for the Mavericks have come at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies on the road.
With a 22-16 record after the first month of the season, Dallas was five games above.500 in the middle of February, but since then it has lost nine of its last 12 games.
One of their three wins in February came on February 23 when they defeated San Antonio 142-116 at home.
The Mavericks are entering this game on a three-game losing streak after suffering back-to-back losses on Saturday and Monday to Memphis.
All-Star Luka Doncic has been ruled out for this game with a thigh injury and is not available for substitution.
His absence will be felt greatly by the Mavericks since he averages 33 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8 assists a game, which is first in the league.
Not only is Doncic doubtful to play for Dallas because of a foot injury, but starting point guard Kyrie Irving is as well.
As a result of his thigh injury, Doncic will miss Wednesday’s game in San Antonio.
Wednesday will be the third straight game on the sidelines for Doncic, and with Kyrie Irving (foot), Christian Wood (foot) and Tim Hardaway (calf) all questionable, it could again be the Jaden Hardy show Wednesday.
Doncic’s next shot to play will come Friday against the Lakers, but it’s not a great omen that he’s still getting ruled out a full 24 hours in ahead of tip-off.
With 27.5 points and 6.6 assists per game, Irving is the Mavericks’ second-leading scorer. Christian Wood, the starting centre, is doubtful due to a foot injury, and veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. has a bruised calf and is uncertain to play.
Wood ranks just behind Hardaway Jr. (#5) in points scored (17.1) and rebounds grabbed (7.6) (14.2).
Dallas averages 113 points per game, good for 18th in the NBA, but it will be playing with a short bench on Wednesday. It has to beat the worst defence in the league, San Antonio’s (122.0).
Let’s scroll down to find out more about the injury that the Mavericks are suffering from.
- Luka Doncic (Thigh): Expected to be out until at least Mar 17
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (Calf): Game Time Decision
- Christian Wood (Foot): Game Time Decision
- Kyrie Irving (Foot): Game Time Decision
