The Dallas Mavericks hoped to move forward into a new era after the controversial trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. The early days of that era have been marred by the presence of the injury bug.
Center Daniel Gafford is the latest key Mavericks player to go down with an injury. He suffered a knee injury during Monday's game against the Sacramento Kings. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the injury is a grade 3 MCL sprain which will keep him out for at least six weeks.
Gafford's extended absence comes at the worst possible time for Dallas. Anthony Davis, another frontcourt player and the key return piece in the Dončić deal, suffered an adductor strain just days earlier during his Dallas debut. Young center Dereck Lively II suffered a foot fracture in late January that will cost him t
Despite the terrible run of luck, the Mavericks have won four of five games, including a 118–113 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday. Dallas is 29–26 and in eighth place in the Western Conference.