Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson Headline 10-Player Dallas Mavericks Injury Report vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Grant AfsethFebruary 27, 2026March 1, 2026

NBA: Cooper Flagg reacts with teammates during the second half at Toyota Center against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Texas.

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks will attempt to snap a six-game home losing streak Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies while navigating one of their most taxing injury reports of the season, with 10 players listed in varying degrees of availability on the second night of a back-to-back set following Thursday’s 130-121 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Cooper Flagg, Marvin Bagley III, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II are all out. P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, Moussa Cissé, and Ryan Nembhard are all doubtful. Caleb Martin is questionable. Miles Kelly is probable. Tipoff at American Airlines Center is slated for 7:30 p.m. CST.

Cooper Flagg’s Absence Looms Largest

For the sixth consecutive game, the Mavericks will be without their most important player. Flagg has not stepped on the floor since suffering a left midfoot sprain in a 120-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns on February 10, and the team has declined to offer any firm timetable for his return, instead ruling him out on a game-to-game basis with no indication that Friday will be any different.

The absence has been crippling. Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick and leading Rookie of the Year candidate, has been the team’s best player this season by a significant margin, averaging a team-high 20.4 points to go with 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 49 games.

The problems don’t stop there. Irving continues to recover from left knee surgery, and Lively remains sidelined following right foot surgery, leaving Dallas without three of its most impactful players, with no clear end in sight.

P.J. Washington’s Momentum Derailed Again

Just when Washington appeared to be rounding into form, the injury bug struck again. The 6-7 forward, who has battled a string of nagging ailments all season that have made consistency nearly impossible, suffered a left ankle sprain during Tuesday’s 123-114 win in Brooklyn that ended a six-game streak of double-digit scoring performances — his longest such run of the year. He’s doubtful to play against Memphis.

He averaged 14.3 points and 7.1 rebounds across 42 games this season and, when healthy, provides the kind of defensive versatility few players on the roster can replicate, capable of guarding centers and wing players alike.

Washington’s potential absence Friday would leave yet another significant hole in a rotation that is running out of bodies to fill them.

Marvin Bagley III Out, Klay Thompson and Caleb Martin Also Uncertain

The frontcourt depth concerns deepen with Bagley ruled out after suffering a neck sprain in Thursday’s 130-121 loss to Sacramento. The veteran big man had averaged 13.0 points and 8.9 rebounds across 12 appearances this season, including seven starts, and his absence further complicates a frontcourt picture that was already bleak.

Thompson is listed as doubtful with rest on the back end of the back-to-back. The 13-year veteran is averaging 13.2 points and shooting 44.4% from three in 53 games this season, but the Mavericks have been deliberate about protecting him in these situations, and there is little reason to expect a change in approach Friday.

Martin is questionable with low back soreness. His two-way versatility makes him one of the more utilized depth pieces in the rotation when available, and the Mavericks will likely monitor him throughout pre-game before making a final call.

Daniel Gafford Available, Khris Middleton’s Status Carries Extra Intrigue

Two names worth watching Friday carry very different implications. Gafford, who had appeared on the injury report as questionable with a right ankle issue in several recent games, is absent from Friday’s listing despite the back-to-back — a quiet but encouraging sign that he is expected to be available.

For a frontcourt already missing Bagley, Washington, and Lively, having Gafford healthy and active would be a meaningful development.

Middleton’s situation is more complicated. The veteran forward made his Dallas debut Thursday with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting and is expected to play Friday — but sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that he could still be bought out before Saturday’s March 1 deadline, potentially freeing him to sign with a playoff contender.

The fact that he is suiting up on the back end of a back-to-back for a 21-37 team while a buyout looms just 24 hours away makes for one of the stranger subplots of the Mavericks’ season. Dallas is firmly outside the postseason picture, the deadline is real, and every game Middleton plays in a Mavericks uniform between now and Saturday morning carries an air of uncertainty.

Naji Marshall and Brandon Williams Carry the Load

Thursday’s loss laid bare just how heavily this shorthanded group is leaning on a handful of healthy contributors. Marshall posted a season-high 36 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists — one of the finest individual performances in franchise history — and still couldn’t drag Dallas over the line against the league-worst Kings. He has now scored 30 or more points in three of the Mavericks’ last eight games and is averaging 15.6 points on the season. If the Mavericks are going to find a way to win Friday, he will almost certainly need to be just as good.

Brandon Williams has quietly become just as important. Averaging 12.9 points this season, the guard scored 19 points and dished out 10 assists in a road win at Brooklyn on Tuesday before adding 16 points and four assists in Thursday’s loss.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has noticed a maturation in his game that goes well beyond the box score.

“I think you can see that Brandon has turned the corner of being able to play-make for others,” Kidd said. “He’s using his speed to get into the paint and not always looking to score but making plays for others. He’s made some big shots for us, and I thought he played some pretty good defense, too. I think you can see he’s getting comfortable running the team.”

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies Arrive Equally Battered

If there is any consolation for Dallas, it is that Memphis is in no better shape. The Grizzlies have lost seven of their last eight games and arrive without Ja Morant, who will miss his 16th consecutive contest with a left elbow injury that has sidelined him since January 21. Zach Edey remains out with an ankle issue, and rookie Cedric Coward hasn’t played since the All-Star break due to a knee injury.

The Grizzlies’ rebounding situation has become particularly dire. Memphis was outrebounded 48-34 in a 133-112 home loss to Golden State on Wednesday and has been outrebounded by a combined 150-106 margin across its last three games — all losses. The team signed 16-year veteran Taj Gibson on Thursday in an attempt to address the problem following the trades of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jock Landale, but the 40-year-old averaged just 2.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 37 games for Charlotte last season.

Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo did not mince words when assessing the challenge his team faces.

“There’s no primary rim protector, and we have very little secondary rim protection right now that will erase those mistakes,” Iisalo said. “We’ve given up way too easily in the past three games.”

Dallas is 5-4 on the second night of back-to-backs this season. On a night when the Mavericks desperately need a win, and their opponent is as vulnerable as any they will face all year, the opportunity is there — if they can stay healthy long enough to take it.

The Mavericks host the Grizzlies on Friday night at American Airlines Center, with tipoff slated for 7:30 p.m. CST.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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