Mavs Step Back: Latest on Kyrie Irving Injury; Luka Doncic Leads Dallas Win Streak
The Dallas Mavericks, now 13-8 and in third place in the Western Conference standings after Friday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers, enter Monday night’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies looking to string together three consecutive wins for the first time since the first week of the season when they started 4-0.
Although Friday’s win was ugly, the Mavs will take what they can get, especially since star point guard Kyrie Irving went down with a heel contusion and is expected to miss at least a few games. On the latest episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, we discuss the Mavs’ win over the Blazers at length, including Dante Exum’s big step-up performance, as well as the latest updates regarding Irving’s injury.
“One of the biggest things with our team is our next-man-up mentality,” Exum said. “You see that right now with me as an example. … We have (a lot of players) down. And the guys have been able to step up. Hopefully, he (Irving) is not out for too long, but we have a deep roster that’s willing and ready to step up.”
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From there, we talk about the Mavs’ upcoming stretch of games, including tonight’s game against the Grizzlies. Not only are the Mavs favored to win this one despite being shorthanded with Irving, Grant Williams, Josh Green and Maxi Kleber being out, but they also owe the Grizzlies one given how things went down on Dec. 1 when Doncic missed that game due to the birth of his daughter.
Following the Memphis game, the Mavs face a tough Los Angeles Lakers team on a second night of a back-to-back on Tuesday. Then they’ll take on the best team in the West, the Minnesota Timberwolves, on Thursday. Dallas could win both of those games, but it’s going to be extremely tough, so taking care of business in Memphis tonight will be crucial.
You can watch or listen to this episode below. Also, be sure to SUBSCRIBE on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you get your podcasts! We are a little over 100 subscribers away from hitting the 15,000 mark, and we can’t thank you enough!
Spoiler alert for any football fans out there: there was also a bold — and correct — prediction for the Dallas Cowboys’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles at the very end of this one.
