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HomeDallas Mavericks‘Felt Pretty Good’: Dallas Mavericks Center Daniel Gafford Trusts Ankle In First Game Back As Return Process Continues
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‘Felt Pretty Good’: Dallas Mavericks Center Daniel Gafford Trusts Ankle In First Game Back As Return Process Continues

Grant AfsethGrant Afseth
Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks, NBA
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

For Daniel Gafford, Monday night wasn’t about minutes, numbers, or even rhythm. It was about trust. After missing three games and navigating the third aggravation of a lingering right ankle injury, the Dallas Mavericks center returned against the Utah Jazz under a minutes restriction, logging 13 minutes in his first action since Dec. 3.

While the stat line was modest, Gafford said the more important test came internally — how his body responded, and whether he could rely on it in live action.

Asked postgame how he felt overall, Gafford acknowledged both the positives and the areas still in progress.

“I felt pretty good,” Gafford said. “With the altitude and it being my first game back, I felt like my wind was where it needed to be. There were definitely areas I could’ve played better in. I’m not going to use it as an excuse, but if you’re looking at it from the outside, that’s probably something you’d point to.”

Battling Lauri Markkanen, Learning on the Fly

Part of that challenge came from the matchup itself. Gafford spent stretches dealing with Lauri Markkanen, a difficult assignment for any defender — particularly one returning from injury.

Gafford detailed the communication demands of that matchup and expressed respect for Markkanen’s skill set.

“Trying to guard Markkanen, that’s just some of the things he’s able to do on the court,” Gafford said. “He finds ways to manipulate the game in ways that benefit him. When it comes to the coverage, we’ve got to communicate nonstop—from when they take the ball out, to when they’re bringing it up, to when we’re set in the half court.

“He’s a tough cover. Lauri is a great player. I played with him my first year in Chicago and saw it firsthand. Seeing him do what he’s doing here, I give him props. He’s doing what he’s always done.”

Praising Cooper Flagg’s Composure

The night belonged offensively to Cooper Flagg, who authored a historic performance that kept Dallas competitive deep into overtime. From Gafford’s perspective, Flagg’s persistence stood out as much as his shot-making.

“He never quit,” Gafford said. “He just kept going, kept attacking the basket, taking the shots he felt comfortable with, and giving us the edge we needed throughout the game.”

Gafford also pointed to late-game execution as a difference-maker, noting how Flagg continued to apply pressure even as Dallas struggled to close possessions.

“At the end of overtime, I felt like we kind of let go of the rope,” he said. “Some of the possessions were empty possessions. We were shooting early in the shot clock when we could’ve used the full clock to get the shots we wanted.

“But with him, he came down and took whatever shots he was comfortable with, and basically every one of them went in. … He kept us in the game for the majority of it,” he added.

Daniel Gafford on Trusting the Ankle Again

Beyond the game flow, the most revealing moment came when Gafford was asked directly about the ankle — both physically and mentally — and whether he trusted it after weeks of setbacks.

“For sure,” Gafford said. “I trusted it. I’m kind of at the last part of all my rehab stuff. I’ve just been taking it one day at a time and trying to stay patient.”

That patience has been hard-earned. Gafford acknowledged that his current version is still a work in progress, but said the pain level has remained manageable.

“It’s not ideal — I’m not the Daniel Gafford that everybody has seen,” he said. “But I’m sticking through the process, keeping my head level, and pushing myself. It can get frustrating going through something like this, but I’m trying to fight through that frustration to get back to where I want to be.

“The ankle is doing good. It’s not too much pain. I’d say it’s manageable right now, for sure,” he added.

Dallas Mavericks Continue to Manage the Injury

The Mavericks are treating Gafford’s return as a gradual process rather than a checkpoint. His minutes will continue to be monitored as he works his way through the final stages of rehab and reacclimation.

For Gafford, Monday night represented progress — not because of what showed up in the box score, but because of what didn’t go wrong.

After weeks of uncertainty, he left the floor trusting his ankle again.

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Tags :Cooper FlaggDallas MavericksDaniel GaffordLauri MarkkanenMavericks injury reportNBANBA InjuriesNBA NewsUtah Jazz
Grant Afseth

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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