Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. will remained sidelined for his team's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night due to a a back issue, according to Mavericks reporter Dwain Price.
Smith also missed the Mavs' win over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday evening as a result of the same injury. Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle said that he doesn't have an update on Smith's back, but added that he does not think the injury is serious.
On the year, Smith is averaging 12.6 points, 3.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals over 27.7 minutes per game while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from 3-point range and 68.1 percent from the free-throw line.
The second-year guard has played in just 28 games this season due to a persistent wrist injury.
Injuries are nothing new to Smith in general, as he tore his ACL in high school, and during his rookie campaign in the NBA, he dealt with injuries to his knee, ankle and hip, limiting him to 69 contests.
During that time, Smith registered 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, 3.8 boards and one steal across 29.7 minutes a night while making 39.5 percent of his field goal attempts, 31.3 percent of his long-distance tries and 69.4 percent of his foul shots.
The 21-year-old, who played his collegiate basketball at North Carolina State, was originally selected by the Mavs with the ninth overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Dallas currently owns a record of 19-22 and has lost 11 of its last 15 games after a surprising 15-11 start. Following the Mavs' game against the Timberwolves on Friday, they will take on the Golden State Warriors Sunday evening.
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