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HomeDallas MavericksDallas Mavericks Forward Khris Middleton Ruled Out vs. Portland Trail Blazers With Illness
Khris Middleton talks with referee Jenna Schroeder during the first quarter of the Mavericks’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on March 15, 2026.
Khris Middleton speaks with referee Jenna Schroeder during the first quarter of the Mavericks’ matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 15, 2026, in Cleveland. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Dallas Mavericks Forward Khris Middleton Ruled Out vs. Portland Trail Blazers With Illness

Grant Afseth

DHJ Quick Take

  • Late Scratch: Khris Middleton was a surprise late addition to the injury report and was ruled out shortly before tip-off against the Portland Trail Blazers due to an illness.
  • Shorthanded Success: Despite missing Middleton and Daniel Gafford, Dallas snapped a five-game losing streak with a 100-93 victory at Moda Center.
  • Next Opportunity: Middleton’s next chance to return to the lineup will be Monday night when the Mavericks host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Khris Middleton was ruled out for Friday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers with an illness, the Dallas Mavericks announced shortly before tip-off.

Middleton had not appeared on the official injury report ahead of the game, making the late scratch a surprise addition to an already shorthanded Dallas lineup. The veteran forward had posted 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists in 18 minutes during Wednesday’s road loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Khris Middleton Late Scratch: How the Dallas Mavericks Adjusted in Portland

The veteran forward is averaging 11.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 21 games this season since joining Dallas. His absence left the Mavericks without both Middleton and Daniel Gafford, who missed his second straight game with a right shoulder sprain.

In their absence, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Naji Marshall absorbed additional responsibility to help Dallas secure the 100-93 win. Thompson, in particular, saw extended run off the bench, logging 18 minutes and setting a new franchise record for three-pointers made by a reserve in a single season.

Also inactive on Friday were Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Caleb Martin (right plantar fascia strain), and G League assignments Moussa Cissé and John Poulakidas.

The Mavericks return home to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center, where Middleton’s status will be monitored leading up to the game.

More Dallas Mavericks Coverage From Tonight’s Game in Portland

Tags :Dallas MavericksDaniel GaffordJason KiddKhris MiddletonMavericks injuriesModa CenterNBANBA Injury ReportNBA NewsPortland Trail Blazers
Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth

Senior Writer
is a Senior Writer for Dallas Hoops Journal and a lead contributor to Roundtable.io. With over a decade of experience as a credentialed journalist, Afseth provides elite tactical analysis and front-office strategy for the Mavericks, Wings, and Texas basketball. His reporting is featured across national platforms including Newsweek, RG.org, Hoops Rumors, and Athlon Sports. A primary source for the basketball community, his work is frequently cited by Wikipedia, RealGM, and Basketball-Reference. He previously served as a Mavericks and NBA reporter for Sports Illustrated's FanNation and Rockets/OnSI, as well as Ballislife, Heavy Sports, ClutchPoints, and NBA Analysis Network. During the Mavericks' 2024 NBA Finals run and the pivotal 2025 offseason—featuring his lead reporting on the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade—he served as a featured insider for The Texas Standard and BBC Sport Radio. Afseth is a regular guest on Fox 4 Dallas and 105.3 The Fan. He previously reported for the Kokomo Tribune and Winsidr. Follow his real-time reporting on X @GrantAfseth.
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