What Happened To P.J. Washington? Dallas Mavericks Forward Injures Ankle In Warmups, Ruled Out vs. LA Clippers
The Dallas Mavericks were already operating with one of the league’s thinnest rotations when Saturday’s game against the LA Clippers took an unexpected turn. P.J. Washington, announced as a starter during pregame introductions, never made it to the opening tip after rolling his right ankle on a loose ball during warmups.
Washington left the floor immediately for evaluation and was initially labeled questionable. The Mavericks later ruled him out near the end of the first quarter, removing one of their most productive scorers from an already depleted lineup. He did not sit on the bench and did not return to the court at any point during the night.
Pregame Injury Sends Dallas Mavericks Scrambling
Head coach Jason Kidd said the loss came out of nowhere for a group already missing Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Kyrie Irving, and Danté Exum.
“It’s tough when PJ’s playing at a high level and a freak accident—steps on the ball as the horn goes off and twists his ankle,” Kidd said. “But again, Naji steps up.”
Naji Marshall, who had been preparing for a reserve role until minutes before tipoff, entered the starting lineup and finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the Mavericks’ 114–110 win. Kidd praised Marshall’s transition into the role and the team’s balance amid constant disruption.
“A lot of next-man-up mentality,” Kidd said. “Great team win. Cooper was great, but DP played extremely well. Same with Naji. Key plays down the stretch, and that comes from being in close games.”
Washington’s absence was especially costly given the circumstances. He had led the Mavericks in scoring in Miami and against the Lakers on the first two nights of the road trip, and Dallas planned to rely on his offense again with Davis restricted to injury management. Instead, the Mavericks were forced to lean heavily on their two youngest players, Cooper Flagg and Ryan Nembhard, along with Marshall and veteran Klay Thompson, who was himself a late-day upgrade after initially being listed as out.
Impact Felt Throughout the Night
Washington’s injury cast a shadow over the opening stretch. Dallas fell behind 20–10 before rallying behind Flagg’s early scoring burst and Thompson’s fourth-quarter shooting. But the forward’s absence was repeatedly felt in the frontcourt, especially on the glass and in Dallas’ preferred defensive matchups.
Despite the loss of Washington and a bench reduced to emergency combinations, Dallas improved to 6–15 overall, 2–6 on the road, and 5–11 in clutch games after closing out the win with a series of late free throws. The Clippers dropped to 5–15, including 3–7 at home.
Kidd said Dallas had little choice but to adapt on the fly.
“When we lose a guy before the national anthem, how do we get guys back?” Kidd said. “But the group plays hard. You saw that tonight.”
The Mavericks return to action Monday in Denver, where Anthony Davis is expected to rejoin the lineup. Washington’s availability remains uncertain as the team continues to evaluate the severity of the ankle injury.
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