Dallas Mavericks wing Tim Hardaway Jr. is day-to-day with a left hamstring strain, though the damage could have been much worse, according to Dwain Price of Mavs.com.
On the left hamstring strain Hardaway suffered during Sunday's game against the Lakers, Carlisle said: "My understanding is we dodged a bullet. It could have been much worst. I guess it's day-to-day until further notice." @dallasmavs #Mavs
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) January 1, 2020
Hardaway was forced to exit Sunday's game in the first quarter after getting a steal and going coast-to-coast for a dunk, apparently tweaking something in the process.
The 27-year-old has been a key contributor in Dallas' backcourt, and he has served in a variety of roles. Hardaway is averaging over 25 minutes per game, and he has started in 19 of his 32 appearances. Hardaway is averaging 13.7 points while also posting a .533 Effective Field Goal percentage, the second-highest mark of his career in that category.
Dallas is thriving in part because players like Hardaway have stepped up and significantly increased their offensive efficiency. The Mavericks rank first in offensive rating and fourth in points per game, according to Basketball-Reference.
Hardaway's success could be coming as a result of a change in scenery. He struggled with the New York Knicks prior to arriving in Dallas as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade last February, but almost immediately began to excel with the Mavericks. He spoke about his role change this past November (via Greg Joyce of the New York Post):
“I think my role here is different,” Hardaway said. “I try to stay aggressive, but at the end of the day, I know what I’m here for: Come off the bench, give a spark and just do the little things.
“I’m just trying to embrace that role as much as possible and it’s getting us wins.”
The Mavericks fell to 21-12 after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, but they are still in a great position in fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
Dallas will monitor Hardaway's status as he looks to return in short order.
–
Follow ClutchPoints on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook. We can also be found on Flipboard where you can subscribe and follow us.
All of our NBA content can be found on the NBA section of the ClutchPoints home page here. For all of our college basketball content, click here.
Follow NBA games live by downloading the ClutchPoints App and heading to the scores tab under the NBA section.
You can listen and subscribe to the Battle for LA podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud. You can also find new episodes of Battle for LA, the ClutchPoints NBA Podcast, and Establish the Pass under the Podcast tab on the ClutchPoints home page.
Follow Us
Subscribe