It was another night to forget for the Dallas Mavericks.
Never mind defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Suns, they were savaged by further injuries on the night.
After trading away Luka Doncic, it’s been on problem after another for the Mavs who are proving things can get always get worse.
In the aftermath of their 125-116 loss to the Suns on Sunday they were left with just seven healthy players.
During the match, Dwight Powell walked to the bench with blood streaming down his forehead after colliding heads with teammate Kessler Edwards, the former was left needing seven stiches.
Matters became worse when a third player was downed as Brandon Williams suffered a hamstring injury and did not return to the game.
This comes after Dallas lost Kyrie Irving to a season-ending knee injury as well as Anthony Davis, who has no time-table for his return.
The star forward suffered a groin injury on his debut after the remarkable trade that sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he is balling out alongside LeBron James.
Expectations were low heading into Sunday’s game with only nine active players and when three got injured during the game, defeat felt inevitable.
“Never seen this,” Kidd told reporters about the situation he is in.
“Never been in a game where we could not take someone out to rest them because we had no one to put in. At the end of the bench, usually you can put someone in.”
“If they were not in [street] clothes, they were in the back getting stitches or could not move or walk. It’s tough. It is what it is, though. You’ve got to keep pushing forward.”
Dallas have now matched its longest losing streak of the season at five games and dropped below .500 for the first time since mid-November.
It doesn’t get any easier for Dallas either, who have lost all three games since Irving’s injury.
They play San Antonio on Monday night and with Powell expected to return, the Mavericks should be able to field an active roster of 8, which is the league minimum.
“We’re probably going to have seven, eight at the most,” Kidd said of the first of consecutive road games against the Spurs.
Even Kevin Durant, who finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and eights assists on the night, was left shocked at the Mavericks’ situation.
“It’s definitely one of the first I’ve seen where they’re just straight injuries and not tanking,” Durant said.
“Guys are genuinely injured for longer than a couple of weeks. It’s sad to see a lot of players out.”
Mavericks’ injury woes
- Anthony Davis (left adductor strain)
- Daniel Gafford (right knee sprain)
- Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain)
- Kyrie Irving (torn ACL in left knee)
- Kai Jones (left quad strain)
- Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture)
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right wrist sprain)
- P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain).
No reinforcements can be added for the Mavericks either despite having an open roster sport.
That is because they are only $51,000 below the salary cap’s first apron and cannot exceed that threshold, a 10-day contract pays $119,972.
“We can’t sign anybody, so me and Duds cost too much,” Kidd said in jest referring to Mavs assistant coach Jared Dudley, who played for 14-years in the NBA before retiring in 2021.
“You’ve got to laugh or else this will drive you crazy.”
