Not only did the Dallas Mavericks fall to the Los Angeles Clippers 110-107 on Tuesday, but the Mavs also lost a key piece to their puzzle in Dwight Powell.
With three minutes left in the first quarter, the Mavs center went down with a non-contact injury while trying to drive the ball to the hoop. After the game, head coach Rick Carlisle admitted that the big man's injury is “feared to be severe.”
Carlisle: He’s going to have an MRI to tomorrow, right Achilles injury “feared to be severe.”
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 22, 2020
Powell's right Achilles injury could possibly be season-ending. The sixth-year pro will have an MRI done on Wednesday to confirm the severity of his injury.
Powell has been an integral part of the Mavs' success this season. As the team's starting center, the 6-foot-10 big man has averaged 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 64 percent from the field.
The 28-year-old has brought energy, hustle and solid play to the Mavs, which has allowed the team to start the season 27-15 as the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
Carlisle praised his starting center after the game and called him a soldier.
“Very somber night. . . It doesn’t get much tougher than this, if it ends up being what is feared … but he’ll be back. Some guys you just know,” Carlisle said
The potential of the young Mavs squad certainly takes a hit with Dwight Powell's injury. Led by second-year superstar Luka Doncic and 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis, they are trying to make their first playoff appearance since 2016.
With Powell out for the foreseeable future, expect an increase in minutes for fellow big men Maxi Kleber and Boban Marjanovic.
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