Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving is set to miss at least a week or two, due to a bulging disk in his back, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon.
The Mavericks initially provided an update Sunday stating Irving would miss Monday’s game with a lumbar sprain in his back. There is hope treatment over the next few days will help firm up a return date.
On the season, Irving is averaging 24.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field, including 44.1 percent from three.
Injuries Weighing Down Mavs
Already without Luka Doncic, this news could hardly have come at a worst time as Dallas plummets down the West standings.
Losers of four straight, the Mavs will now be in an even tougher spot, as the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets (x2) await in four of their next five games. Dallas is 0-3 when both Doncic and Irving don’t play this season.
Currently sixth but tied with the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers in the standings, one bad week is enough to put the Mavs on the outside looking in for a guaranteed playoff spot.
The Lakers added Dorian Finney-Smith to the rotation and have looked quite good over the last couple weeks.
The Sacramento Kings have responded to the firing of Mike Brown in inspired fashion, winning four straight games to move within 3.5 games of Dallas.
The Clippers just welcomed back their best player in Kawhi Leonard and will now be looking to make a move up the standings.
Who Steps Up?
Spencer Dinwiddie and Quentin Grimes usually see the biggest upticks in playing time when Dallas’ main duo has been out.
Offseason signing Naji Marshall has been particularly terrific scoring the ball in the absence of Doncic and Irving, and he’ll be heavily relied upon to provide more of that output.
The Mavs would certainly like to put more on Klay Thompson’s plate, but he has averaged just 12.6 points in nine games without Doncic this season.
One player who’s been quite important on the season and even more so in the absence of Doncic is P.J. Washington. He’s put up a stabilizing 17.8 points per game when Irving hasn’t played and will be asked to continue thriving during the star guard’s absence.
