Mavericks Practice Notebook: Injury Updates, Chandler Works with Bigs, Thompson's Shooting, Prosper's Development
Mavericks practice updates: Injury news on Dončić and Irving, Chandler works with bigs, Thompson shines in shooting drills, and Prosper’s development continues ahead of Clippers game.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks returned to practice on Tuesday following a day off after their thrilling 143-133 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. The team is gearing up for Thursday’s matchup against the LA Clippers, and while some players are on the mend, there were positive developments on the injury front.
Injury Updates
Luka Dončić (left heel contusion) and Kyrie Irving (right shoulder soreness) were absent from practice, and their statuses remain uncertain for Thursday’s game. While Irving has been sidelined previously with shoulder soreness, it’s the first time Dončić has dealt with a heel injury this season.
In more positive news, Naji Marshall (illness) and Maxi Kleber (illness, rib contusion) returned to practice after being sidelined earlier in the week. Marshall, who’s been battling illness for weeks, missed the Warriors game, while Kleber has been out the last three games.
The Mavericks have already ruled out Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Danté Exum (right wrist surgery), and Brandon Williams (right thumb sprain) for Thursday’s game. Hardy is progressing and participated in a pre-game workout before the team’s San Francisco trip.
Key Practice Themes
As the Mavericks prepare for their matchup against the Clippers, head coach Jason Kidd spoke about the team's resilience despite injuries and a hectic travel schedule. The team is riding a strong 12-2 run in their last 14 games despite playing most of it on the road.
“I think, you look at the roster, the depth, and I tell the group to be prepared, to understand what their goals are, and to have fun while playing,” Kidd said. “We didn’t complain about the road trips or the injuries. That’s just the character of the group overall.”
Dereck Lively II pointed to heart, effort, and limiting mistakes as the primary factors in their success during this hectic stretch.
“It’s heart and effort,” Lively said. “There have been times when we’ve left effort plays on the floor, but we’re working to limit those. Whether it’s diving on the floor, getting steals, 50/50 balls, or offensive rebounds, we’ve been trying to eliminate the things we can control.”
Kidd also acknowledged the need for the Mavericks to tighten their defense after a few lapses this season. Though the team has remained in the top 10 for defense and offense, Kidd believes they can reach an elite level with a renewed focus.
“We’ve got to get back to guarding,” Kidd explained. “But overall, we’re still in the top 10 in both defense and offense. That gives us a good chance. We just need to tighten things up on defense to get back to that elite level.”
Here are some key observations from the Mavericks’ practice facility:
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