Nov 18, 2025, Posted by: Arlo Beaumont
When the Dallas Mavericks stepped onto the court at the Target Center on Monday, November 17, 2025, they weren’t just playing a game—they were fighting for survival. With their starting center Daniel Gafford sidelined by a sprained ankle, their other starting big man Dereck Lively the Second resting after a back-to-back, and franchise cornerstone Kyrie Irving out with a knee injury expected to sideline him for months, the Mavericks were down to their last reserves. The result? A 120-96 drubbing at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, a loss that dropped Dallas to 4-10 on the season and exposed a roster in freefall.
The Frontcourt Collapse
It started Sunday night in Portland. Daniel Gafford, the 26-year-old center who’d been the Mavericks’ defensive anchor, scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in a gritty overtime win. Then, in the final minute, he landed awkwardly after contesting a shot. X-rays came back clean, but swelling and pain forced him out of Monday’s game. He’d been averaging 11.8 points and 8.2 rebounds over the last five contests—his best stretch since joining Dallas in 2024.
Then came the gut punch: Dereck Lively the Second, the 21-year-old rookie who’d shown flashes of elite rim protection, was held out for rest—‘the second night of the back-to-back,’ according to MavsMoneyBall. That decision, while understandable in theory, left Dallas with zero healthy, proven centers. Backup Klay Thompson was moved to center in emergency lineups, a move that left the team vulnerable on both ends.
The Playmaker Is Gone
And then there’s Kyrie Irving. The two-time All-Star, who had been orchestrating Dallas’s offense with surgical precision, suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in practice on November 10. Team doctors now say he’ll miss ‘a significant portion of the season’—likely 8 to 12 weeks. Without him, the Mavericks’ offense, already ranked 29th in points per game, collapsed into chaos. They averaged just 89.3 points in their last three games without him, compared to 112.1 when he played.
Adding to the nightmare, guards Dante Exum and Ryan Nembhard were also out, leaving the team with just nine active players. Coach Jason Kidd had to turn to rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, to handle primary ball-handling duties. Flagg, 19, finished with 12 points and 5 assists—but also committed 6 turnovers against Minnesota’s aggressive defense.
The Aftermath: A Team in Crisis
The loss to the Timberwolves wasn’t just about the score. It was about identity. Dallas had built its early-season reputation on defense—top 10 in opponent points per possession. But without Gafford and Lively, they allowed 120 points to a Minnesota team that had been struggling offensively all season. The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, who had averaged just 22.1 points in his previous five games, exploded for 34 on 13-of-21 shooting.
Former NBA All-Star Lou Williams, now a broadcaster, didn’t mince words: ‘If this injury carousel doesn’t stop, the season may be over.’ His blunt assessment echoed in locker rooms across the league. But Dallas’s front office, led by Cynt Marshall and Nico Harrison, insists they’re not giving up. ‘We’ve been through this before,’ Harrison told reporters after the game. ‘We’ve got depth in the G League. We’ve got medical staff working overtime.’
The Dallas Mavericks’ training facility at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, has become a 24/7 rehab hub. Head athletic trainer John Kromer is overseeing daily sessions for Gafford, Lively, and Irving. The goal? Get at least two of them back before Wednesday’s game against an unnamed opponent.
What’s Next? A Narrow Window
The Mavericks’ next game—Wednesday, November 19, 2025—isn’t just another contest. It’s a make-or-break moment. If Gafford can return, even in limited minutes, it changes everything. If Lively is cleared for light duty, Dallas gains flexibility. But if Irving remains out past the All-Star break, the team’s playoff hopes vanish.
And then there’s the roster crunch. The NBA’s trade deadline is February 20, 2026. With cap space tight and few attractive assets, Dallas may be forced to rely on internal growth—or gamble on a mid-level exception. Rookie Cooper Flagg is no longer just a project—he’s now the face of their future.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just a Dallas problem. It’s a league-wide warning. The 2025-2026 NBA season has already seen 17 players miss 20+ games due to injury before Thanksgiving. The Mavericks’ situation is extreme, but not unique. Teams like the Clippers, Nuggets, and Suns are also navigating injury storms. The difference? Dallas has no superstar backup plan. No Giannis. No Luka. Just a roster built on depth that’s now gone.
For fans, it’s frustrating. For management, it’s a reckoning. For players like Flagg and second-year guard Dereck Lively the Second (who’s still on the shelf), it’s a baptism by fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Kyrie Irving expected to be out?
Kyrie Irving is expected to miss 8 to 12 weeks due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain, meaning he could return no sooner than late January 2026. Team doctors have ruled out any return before the All-Star break, and his absence significantly impacts Dallas’s offensive rhythm, as he accounted for 28.7% of the team’s assists before his injury.
What impact does losing Gafford and Lively have on Dallas’s defense?
Before their injuries, Gafford and Lively combined to block 4.3 shots per game and held opponents to 48.7% shooting at the rim—the best in the NBA among frontcourts. Without them, Dallas’s interior defense has collapsed, allowing 58.2% shooting near the basket over the last three games, a 12-point spike from their season average.
Is the Mavericks’ season really over, as Lou Williams suggested?
While Lou Williams’ comment is dramatic, it’s not baseless. With a 4-10 record and the West’s top 8 teams averaging 11+ wins by mid-November, Dallas needs to go 28-21 over their final 49 games to reach .500. Without Irving, Gafford, or Lively, that’s nearly impossible. But if two of those three return before January, a late push becomes plausible.
Who is now leading the Mavericks’ offense?
With Irving out, rookie Cooper Flagg has taken over primary playmaking duties, averaging 5.8 assists in his last three starts. But he’s also turning the ball over 4.2 times per game. Veteran Dorian Finney-Smith is now the de facto offensive leader, averaging 17.4 points since November 10, but he’s not a natural creator.
What’s the Mavericks’ next game, and can they recover in time?
Dallas faces an unspecified opponent on Wednesday, November 19, 2025—just two days after the Timberwolves loss. Gafford’s ankle is improving, and early reports suggest he may be cleared for limited minutes. If he plays, even for 15 minutes, it’ll be a huge boost. But without Lively and Irving, even a win would be a minor miracle.
How does this compare to past Mavericks injury crises?
The closest parallel is the 2018-2019 season, when Luka Dončić missed 12 games with a sprained ankle and the team went 3-9. But even then, Dallas had DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews as anchors. This year, they’re down to rookies and fringe NBA players. No prior injury crisis in Dallas history has left them without their top three interior defenders and primary playmaker simultaneously.
Author
Arlo Beaumont
Hello, my name is Arlo Beaumont, and I am a passionate chef with expertise in cooking and creating innovative recipes. I enjoy exploring various cuisines and experimenting with new ingredients to create delicious dishes. I love sharing my culinary knowledge and experiences by writing about recipes and cooking tips. My goal is to inspire others to develop their skills in the kitchen and to discover the joy of cooking.