When the entire NBA appears to be day-to-day, neither the Mavericks nor any other team can gripe about being shorthanded.
But for Jason Kidd’s crew, it’s not necessarily COVID-19 that’s complicating their life.
While just about every team is losing players to the league’s health and safety protocols, it’s the injury bug that seems to be worse for the Mavericks.
Both issues conspired Sunday to create a major manpower shortage that finally caught up with them in the fourth quarter of a 111-105 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
It was a loss that came when the Mavericks faltered in the fourth quarter after Kristaps Porzingis had departed the game with right foot soreness. Porzingis left in the third quarter, and the Mavericks still had an 88-86 lead going into the final 12 minutes.
But they made just 1-of-11 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and were outscored 25-17. They were within 108-105 with just over a minute left, but Sterling Brown missed a 3-pointer and the Wolves hit free throws to seal the win.
The loss dropped the Mavericks back below .500 at 14-15 going into Tuesday’s rematch with Minnesota in Dallas. And in case it’s gone under the radar, the Mavericks now are four games behind the 19-12 Memphis Grizzlies in the Southwest Division and they fell behind the 14-14 Timberwolves into ninth place in the Western Conference.
All of which pales compared to their health situation.
The Mavericks, like everybody else, are having to deal with the COVID-19 uptick that is hitting at the worst possible time as the holiday season is in full swing.
As Dorian Finney-Smith said: “Hopefully, we don’t have to shut down the league.”
That’s always a possibility with the coronavirus. But not with traditional injuries, of which the Mavericks have many.
In addition to Porzingis – and there was no postgame update on him other than having a sore right foot – the Mavericks were without Luka Dončić for the fourth consecutive game as his left ankle soreness continues to mend.
Coach Jason Kidd said his status will be re-evaluated Monday ahead of Tuesday’s chance for payback with the Wolves.
Also gone on Tuesday: Reggie Bullock and Josh Green because of COVID-19 protocols; Frank Ntilikina to non-COVID-19 illness; Willie Cauley-Stein for personal reasons; and two-way player Eugene Omoruyi for a right foot injury.
But they had 10 players left on the roster, plus their other two-way player, Jaquori McLaughlin.
All of them played, with the exception of Boban Marjanović.
And the Mavericks were in position to pull out a win. They had ridden a season-best offensive game from Finney-Smith (23 points) and Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 28 points, six rebounds and six assists to keep pace with the fast-paced Wolves.
“It’s a one-possession game,” Kidd said. “The ball just didn’t fall for us when we had the opportunity. That’s just something we got to get better at. We got some open shots. We just couldn’t make the shot when we had to. We put ourselves in position.”
Which is great. But the Mavericks haven’t been getting the payoff when they have given themselves a shot at victory. They are 5-11 since starting the season 9-4.
“The message to the guys is we got to keep fighting and stay together,” Kidd said. “Our spirit is still high. No one’s going to feel sorry for you if you’re shorthanded in this league.
“Every team’s going to go through it. It just seems that we’re going through it right now. But again, on the road, we gave ourselves a chance to win.”
And the Mavericks clearly had enough firepower to get it done on Sunday, despite all the absentees.
“It’s just stuff we got to deal with,” Finney-Smith said. “It’s a new game right now. We didn’t get a chance to practice (Saturday) or have shootaround. But I feel we put ourselves in position to win the game.”
All true. But adjusting to the requirements that will come with the COVID uptick and closing the deal when it presents itself will determine the Mavericks’ fate in the coming games.
Twitter: @ESefko
Share and comment