Dallas Mavericks Rule Out Brandon Williams And Daniel Gafford Against Toronto Raptors

Grant AfsethOctober 26, 2025October 26, 2025no comment

Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks will again be without several key contributors when they host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night, with one notable downgrade highlighting the team’s latest injury report.

Daniel Gafford has been downgraded to out after initially being listed as questionable following Saturday’s practice. He was later moved to doubtful earlier on Sunday due to a right ankle sprain. It’s the second time this month his status has shifted from questionable to doubtful after early optimism from the coaching staff.

The Mavericks will also remain without Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) and Danté Exum (right knee injury management), leaving the team thin in both the frontcourt and backcourt as it continues its five-game homestand.

Gafford’s absence likely means Anthony Davis plays more at center throughout the course of the game. Kidd noted that managing player workloads early in the season remains a key focus.

“He’s working his way back,” Kidd said of Davis. “Playing 36 minutes last night helps. We played P.J. 39 — not something we want to do often. A lot of those guys were probably tired and made some mental mistakes, but I’d rather that happen now than later.”

Brandon Williams’ Absence Impacts Backup Guard Rotation

Brandon Williams has been ruled out for personal reasons, temporarily halting the Mavericks’ ongoing evaluation of their backup guard options.

Kidd explained Saturday that the coaching staff has been balancing minutes between Ryan Nembhard and Williams to determine who will anchor the second unit behind D’Angelo Russell.

“It’s a combination of what we see in games and in practice,” Kidd said. “Right now, we’re trying to play both. Ryan had a really good preseason, and Brandon was hurt, so we’re trying to get him in rhythm too. Eventually, we’ll have to make a decision, but for now, both will get minutes until one takes control.”

With Williams unavailable, Nembhard will have the opportunity to earn more consistent minutes against Toronto, while Jaden Hardy could see an expanded role as a scoring option off the bench.

Dallas Mavericks Still Seeking First Win

Dallas enters Sunday’s game with an 0–2 record, looking to rebound after losses to San Antonio and Washington that were marked by turnovers and defensive lapses. The Mavericks will rely heavily on Davis, P.J. Washington, and rookie Cooper Flagg to stabilize both ends of the floor against a Raptors team that features a fast-paced offense led by Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and RJ Barrett.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST at American Airlines Center as Dallas looks to secure its first victory of the season.

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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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Dallas Mavericks Rule Out Brandon Williams And Daniel Gafford Against Toronto Raptors