Mavs Rule Out 6 Injured Players vs. Rockets, Including Luka Doncic
HOUSTON — The Dallas Mavericks have dealt with various key players being sidelined with injuries in recent weeks. The amount of notable names who have already been ruled out for Friday's matchup against the Houston Rockets has reached a new level.
The Mavs have ruled out Luka Doncic (left quad strain), Kyrie Irving (right heel contusion), Dereck Lively II (left ankle sprain), Dante Exum (left lower leg contusion), Josh Green (right elbow sprain), and Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) against the Rockets. Seth Curry remains questionable with back spasms, completing Dallas' lengthy injury report.
Kevin Jairaj -USA TODAY Sports
There is still a general lack of information regarding a projected return timetable for many of the Mavs' injured players. However, with the team beginning a back-to-back, it'll be important to monitor which players dealing with day-to-day injuries can compete on Saturday when the team faces the San Antonio Spurs.
Irving and Lively had previously been using walking boots, but both have been out of them as they continue their recovery process. An exact timetable for either player remains to be seen, which isn't a tell about their situations but rather a typical reluctance from the team to put dates on returns.
To put it into perspective, Mavs coach Jason Kidd told reporters before Wednesday's loss against the Los Angeles Clippers that Lively has "no timetable" for a return when asked directly about it.
The Rockets are not facing nearly as many injuries entering Friday's matchup. Only Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) has been ruled out, along with players assigned to the G League, including Nate Hinton, Cam Whitmore, and Jermaine Samuels Jr. The team does have Tari Eason listed as questionable to play due to left lower leg soreness.
More information regarding various players dealing with injuries is expected to come in pre-game media availability before the Mavs face the Rockets.
