The Dallas Mavericks will be without Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night at American Airlines Center, with both players ruled out ahead of the 7 p.m. tip.
The two are among eight Mavericks unavailable for Sunday’s game, leaving Dallas with one of the thinnest rosters it has fielded all season against the defending NBA champion Thunder.
Naji Marshall Out With Finger Contusion
Marshall, who has been Dallas’s most reliable scorer in Cooper Flagg‘s absence, is out with a right finger contusion. He is averaging 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 53.1% shooting this season and has shouldered much of the offensive load since Flagg went down on Feb. 10.
His absence is particularly difficult to absorb, given the form he showed earlier in the week. Against Sacramento on Thursday, Marshall posted 36 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in one of the standout individual performances in the Mavericks’ recent stretch. He followed that with just 4 points on 2-of-6 shooting in 24 minutes against Memphis on Friday — a sign the finger was already affecting him — before being ruled out entirely for Sunday.
P.J. Washington, Marvin Bagley III Remain Sidelined
Washington has not played since spraining his left ankle late in the fourth quarter of Dallas’s win at Brooklyn on Feb. 24. He is averaging 14.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 44.8% shooting this season and has been one of the Mavericks’ steadiest frontcourt contributors when healthy.
With Dereck Lively II already out for the season following right foot surgery and Marvin Bagley III sidelined with a neck sprain he suffered against Sacramento on Thursday, Washington’s absence leaves Dallas particularly short-handed up front.
Head coach Jason Kidd was asked about Bagley’s situation ahead of Sunday’s game and offered some perspective on the 25-year-old’s career trajectory.
“It’s his seventh year,” Kidd said. “Sometimes it just takes time. Sometimes it’s being in the right place at the right time. Hopefully, that’s the case with Bags right now. He was playing extremely well for us before this injury. Understanding who you are and being comfortable in your skin is important.”
New Dallas Mavericks Two-Way Signees Also Unavailable
The Mavericks signed guard John Poulakidas and forward Tyler Smith to two-way contracts earlier Sunday, but neither will suit up against Oklahoma City.
Poulakidas arrived from the G League’s San Diego Clippers, where he shot 47.3% from three-point range in 24 games this season. Smith, a 6-foot-9 forward selected 33rd overall by Milwaukee in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 15.9 points and 5.2 rebounds on 50.9% shooting in 19 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Both will need time before they can contribute at the NBA level.
The moves came at the expense of Miles Kelly, who was waived to open a two-way slot. Kidd acknowledged Kelly’s contributions while explaining the thinking behind the change.
“Kelly had an opportunity,” Kidd said. “But sometimes with two-ways, you’re continuing to look for others. That’s what we’re doing right now. We got a chance to look at Kelly. He’s done everything for us, but there was an opportunity to look at someone different.”
Ryan Nembhard Conversion a Bright Spot; AJ Johnson Available After G League Debut
Amid the injury news, the Mavericks did have reason to celebrate. Ryan Nembhard was converted from a two-way contract to a multi-year standard deal on Saturday, a move Kidd described as well-earned.
“Ryan’s helped us win some games,” Kidd said. “He’s steadied the ship. For Ryan to be able to turn it into a contract, he’s done all the work.”
Kidd also spoke to what has made Nembhard effective in recent games.
“I think you just look at the gear that he’s playing in,” Kidd said. “A lot of times there’s sixth gear. But I think you can see he’s taking the advice of trying to get it down to fifth or fourth. We talk about his speed — especially in fourth gear, he’s still as fast as anybody in the league. For him to get into the paint and look for others, it’s been at a high level.”
AJ Johnson is also available after being recalled from a G League assignment with the Texas Legends on Saturday, where he scored 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting in his debut. Kidd was encouraged by what he saw.
“I thought AJ did a really good job last night attacking and being able to put up those numbers,” Kidd said. “Trying to get him as many minutes — if it’s not with us, then in the G League. He took full advantage of that last night.”
Asked whether Johnson would face a minutes restriction given that Sunday will be his fourth straight game, Kidd didn’t hesitate.
“I don’t think so,” Kidd said. “He’s too young. I don’t see restrictions here.”
Caleb Martin and Moussa Cissé were also upgraded to available for Sunday’s game, giving Dallas a pair of reinforcements off the bench. With Marshall and Washington out, Dallas will lean on Khris Middleton — who Kidd confirmed chose to remain with the team rather than pursue another opportunity — Klay Thompson, Max Christie, Brandon Williams, Gafford, Martin, Cissé, Johnson, and Nembhard against a Thunder team entering Sunday at 46-15.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center. The game can be seen on MavsTV and KFAA.
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