Dallas Mavs vs. Memphis Grizzlies Injury Report: Kyrie Irving OUT; Jaden Hardy IN?
The undefeated Dallas Mavericks (2-0) take on the only-beaten Memphis Grizzlies (0-3) on Monday night at FedExForum in a game that should keep Dallas among the only three unbeaten teams in the Western Conference … for at least a few more days.
The Mavs, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans are the only undefeated teams in the West, and the Grizzlies, who are missing Ja Morant, Steven Adams and Luke Kennard, are playing their third game in four nights. On paper, Luka Doncic and the rest of the Dallas roster should be able to cruise to a 3-0 record, but they must avoid having that mindset or this one could become a classic “trap game.” After all, the Grizzlies’ margin of defeat has been just 6.0 points so far, and the Mavs have started the season by playing in two consecutive clutch games.
Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving got a win in his first game playing the Brooklyn Nets since last season’s blockbuster trade.
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Doncic is arguably the hottest player in the league right now, coming off an incredible 49-point performance in a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, and he’s expected to continue his dominance on Monday. Irving, though, who has been frustrated with his individual play so far this season, popped up on the Mavs’ injury report this afternoon as being “questionable” with a left foot sprain, and with less than an hour remaining until tip-off, he's now officially been ruled as being out.
During training camp, Irving talked about pacing himself at age 31 and “peaking” at the right time, so it's not a shock to see the Mavs take the cautious approach here. Irving missed games at the end of last season due to a plantar fasciitis injury on the same foot, so we naturally have to wonder if the two are connected somehow.
Although losing Irving hurts, perhaps this presents second-year guard Jaden Hardy an opportunity to get his first action of the season. Hardy has received two consecutive DNP-CDs, but that has a good chance of changing now. Last season, Hardy averaged 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists vs. Memphis.
Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com for in-game and postgame coverage as the Mavs-Grizzlies 7:00 p.m. CT tip-off time approaches.
