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HomeDallas Mavericks‘We’ll See How He Feels In D.C.’: Daniel Gafford’s Ankle Injury Puts Dallas Mavericks In Tough Spot During Back-to-Back
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‘We’ll See How He Feels In D.C.’: Daniel Gafford’s Ankle Injury Puts Dallas Mavericks In Tough Spot During Back-to-Back

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

The Dallas Mavericks’ frontcourt concerns grew Friday night after center Daniel Gafford exited the team’s 118–104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies with right ankle soreness. The setback adds to a growing list of early-season injuries that continue to test the Mavericks’ lineup stability and frontcourt rotation.

Gafford, who previously missed time with a sprained right ankle, appeared to aggravate the same issue during the second half. He briefly returned for two minutes after halftime before being ruled out for the remainder of the game. In 12 minutes, Gafford went 0-of-1 from the field with one rebound and two personal fouls.

Through four appearances this season, Gafford has averaged 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting efficiently around the rim. His presence has provided vertical spacing and rim protection for a Mavericks team still adjusting to roster changes and lingering injuries.

Jason Kidd Says Daniel Gafford Will Be Re-Evaluated

Head coach Jason Kidd confirmed postgame that Gafford was dealing with soreness in the same ankle and would be evaluated again before Saturday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards.

“Yeah, sore right ankle,” Kidd said. “We’ll see how he feels in D.C. That’s just the nature of this thing.”

The Mavericks were already shorthanded entering the night, with Anthony Davis (left calf strain) missing his fourth consecutive game and Dereck Lively II (ankle) still sidelined. Kidd said before tipoff that Davis is “feeling better” and progressing through on-court workouts but remains day-to-day.

Moussa Cissé Provides Spark in Daniel Gafford’s Absence

With Gafford’s early exit, Dallas again leaned on smaller lineups and relied heavily on energy from Moussa Cissé, who made the most of his return to Memphis. The two-way center finished with 10 points and eight rebounds in 14 minutes, earning praise from Kidd for his hustle and readiness.

“He plays hard,” Kidd said. “That’s how he plays. He’s out there to prove that he belongs. He’s hungry, and that’s what stands out when you watch him play.”

P.J. Washington continued to shoulder a major workload, finishing with 14 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes. Earlier this week, Gafford acknowledged the toll of holding the frontcourt together while teammates recover. “I’m just kind of holding the fort down for all the bigs right now, until everybody gets back,” he said — a sentiment that now feels even more relevant after another setback.

Max Christie Leads Offense, But Dallas Mavericks Struggle to Find Rhythm

The loss to Memphis marked Dallas’ fourth straight defeat and seventh in its last nine games. The Mavericks fell behind by 35 points in the third quarter before trimming the margin late, but poor shooting and inconsistent defense defined the night. Dallas shot 48.8% from the floor but only 25.6% from three-point range (10-of-39) and 62.5% from the free-throw line (10-of-16).

Max Christie led the Mavericks with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from deep. Naji Marshall added 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists off the bench, while Cooper Flagg scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in 27 minutes.

Kidd said the Mavericks must continue to lean on defensive effort until they regain full health.

“It just happens that we’re struggling early,” Kidd said. “Sometimes it happens in the middle of the season. Sometimes it happens at the end. So we’ve just gotta keep fighting.”

Dallas Mavericks Face Challenging Stretch Ahead

The Mavericks will close their road back-to-back against the Wizards on Saturday before returning home to face a difficult four-game stretch.

Dallas will host the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers, and Portland Trail Blazers next week as it looks to regain momentum and stabilize its frontcourt rotation.

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Tags :Anthony DavisCooper FlaggDallas MavericksDaniel GaffordDereck Lively IIJason KiddMax ChristieMoussa CisséNaji MarshallNBANBA NewsP.J. Washington

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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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