The Dallas Mavericks (19-35) mercifully enter the NBA All-Star break after dropping nine straight games. The saving grace of this miserable season has been their scrappy nature, but the team is growing weaker. Already down rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, Dallas watched both Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall suffer lower-body injuries in Thursday night's 124-104 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Mavs center exited with right ankle soreness, and their forward suffered a left foot strain, per NBA correspondent Marc Stein. Neither returned to the floor.
Marshall scored 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go along with four assists and two steals in 29 minutes of action. He has surpassed 30 points in a game twice this month, so Dallas could be in particularly rough shape if he is forced to miss extended time. Gafford played 29 minutes and finished with two points, six rebounds and one block. They will try to come back strong for next Friday's meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Though, one has to wonder if the Mavericks want them to rush through their respective recoveries. Following this brutal three-week stretch, the team sits in 12th place in the West and is seven games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the final spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Dallas is unlikely to even have a shot at competing for a playoff berth this season, so the organization may want to join the tanking party that is taking place throughout the league. There could be harsh consequences, however.
Based on how the campaign has gone thus far, the Mavericks may not have to do anything extra to lose games. Players will lick their wounds and try to initiate a mental reset during the break. Fans should get updates regarding Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall at some point.
