Mavs Hit with Another Injury Blow: Daniel Gafford Out for Six Weeks
Mavericks fans, we’ve got some tough news. Our frontcourt just took another big hit, as Daniel Gafford is set to miss at least six weeks with a Grade 3 MCL sprain in his right knee.
Gafford got hurt during Monday night’s heartbreaking 129-128 loss to the Kings, colliding with Malik Monk in the second quarter. At first, the team said he’d be reevaluated in two weeks, but now reports confirm he’ll be out much longer.
We’re Running Out of Bigs!
As if things weren’t bad enough, this injury adds to our already thin frontcourt:
- Anthony Davis (adductor strain) – Injured in his debut on Feb. 8, out multiple weeks.
- Dereck Lively II (ankle stress fracture) – Out since Jan. 14, still in a walking boot.
- Dwight Powell (hip strain) – Missed the last 14 games.
With all three of our top bigs out, we’re now relying on 6'7" Kessler Edwards at center. It’s going to be a serious challenge holding down the paint in the Western Conference.
Gafford Was Balling Before the Injury
Just before going down, Gafford was playing some of his best basketball:
- Season stats: 12.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.9 BPG, shooting 69.9% from the field.
- Last 10 games: 15.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 3.8 BPG.
He was a key piece in our rotation, protecting the rim and providing much-needed size. Losing him at this stage is a major setback.
Where Do We Go from Here?
Right now, we’re 8th in the West (30-26 record) and trying to stay in the playoff race. Without Gafford and Davis, we’ll need to adjust fast:
- Do we lean into small-ball lineups with Grant Williams or PJ Washington at center?
- Should we look for a trade or free-agent signing to add some size?
Either way, these next six weeks will be a big test for us.
Can we survive this tough stretch and keep our playoff hopes alive? Let’s hear your thoughts!
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