Nick Angstadt here, the host of the daily Locked On Mavericks podcast, with your daily Locked On Mavericks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Mavericks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Kyrie Irving’s Back Injury Adds to Dallas Mavericks’ Woes...
Jan 1, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) looks up during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina/Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks’ season has taken another hit with the news that Kyrie Irving will be sidelined for at least one to two weeks due to a bulging disc in his back. This latest setback comes served with another disappointing loss, this time to the also injured Memphis Grizzlies, further complicating the Mavericks’ playoff aspirations.
Irving’s absence is a significant blow to a team already struggling without Luka Dončić. The Mavericks have yet to win a game this season with both stars out of the lineup, and the road ahead looks challenging. The upcoming schedule includes matchups against formidable opponents like the Lakers, Nuggets, Celtics, and Thunder.
The injury timeline for Irving remains uncertain. While initial reports suggest a one to two-week absence, historical data on disc issues in the NBA paints a more concerning picture. According to injury tracking expert Jeff Stotts, the average time lost for in-season disc herniations that don’t require surgery is 20 to 28 days, potentially sidelining Irving for up to 12 games.
Mavericks’ Offensive Struggles
In the recent loss to the Grizzlies, the Mavericks’ offensive woes were on full display. After a strong first quarter, the team’s shooting went cold, with key players like PJ Washington, Naji Marshall, and Klay Thompson all shooting below 35% from the field. The absence of both Irving and Dončić was palpable, as the team struggled to generate consistent offense throughout the game.
Defensive Challenges
The Mavericks’ defensive efforts were also compromised, with the team committing 22 fouls and allowing the Grizzlies to attempt 35 free throws. This trend of increased fouling in games without their star duo has become a concerning pattern for the Mavericks.
Looking Ahead
As the Mavericks navigate this challenging stretch, the focus may shift to player development. There’s potential for young players like Dereck Lively to expand their offensive repertoire and gain valuable experience during this period.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Mavericks’ current situation, tune into the Locked On Mavericks podcast for this and much more.
Have we already seen a Finals preview to start 2025?
Jan 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball over Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the fourth quarter at Paycom Center. | Alonzo Adams/Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
It’s just one game, I whisper to myself, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander launches a three with lofty clearance over Jrue Holiday.
It’s just one game, I say, shaking my head as if to clear it when Isaiah Joe on a fastbreak flings the ball around Sam Hauser in hot pursuit, giving Hauser a ring of Saturn in basketball form for a split second, to Aaron Wiggins, shadowing them, for a tidy pop-up shot.
It’s just one game, I say, voice rising, whenGilgeous-Alexander pins the ball, barely out of Tatum’s hand, against the backboard for a block and then, immediately at the other end, lobs it to Isaiah Hartenstein for a dunk.
Sunday’s match between the Thunder and Celtics was just one game, and it’s only just January, but the contest showed what could very believably be a Finals preview. It also showed how OKC can aim to beat Boston in a series.
The Celtics are a machine, and like a machine, they are mechanical. Their dominance comes through the intuitive, expert understanding of what they are good at and how to deploy it, and what they are good at is launching threes. In Sunday’s game, the Celtics took 46 3-pointers. While they only made nine of them (for comparison, the Thunder were 16-of-38 from three), Boston is still shooting the most from deep in the league — sometimes as any as 20 more than their opponents over the course of a game.
The teams that are seeing success in recent wins over the Celtics aren’t necessarily attempting to limit Boston’s three-point attempts. With so many players capable of shooting the three ball it’s a futile effort and expends a lot of wasted energy. What they are doing, and what the Thunder did, is find ways to momentarily jam the machines.
The Thunder moved the ball more, they pressured Boston in the midrange and under the basket, they looked for any gap in the machine’s cogs they could wedge themselves into. Boston used to be way more susceptible to flustering, they abhorred a team that played a messy, gritty, or in any way abrasive style. It’s why the Heat have been so good at beating them in the postseason, because those Miami teams stopped at nothing to make things miserable and didn’t mind playing knee deep in the muck.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Analysis The Mavericks’ recent performances raise questions about their strategy and cohesion. In a detailed roundtable discussion, experts dissect the team’s struggles and potential solutions. (Mavs Moneyball)
Preview With a shorthanded roster, the Mavericks face a challenging back-to-back against the Lakers. Key factors include player fatigue and strategic adjustments. Here are three things to consider for the matchup. (Mavs Moneyball)
Trade As the trade deadline approaches, several top NBA players are on the block. The Mavericks might be eyeing new deals to bolster their roster. Explore the trade possibilities for the team’s targets. (Bleacher Report)
Analysis Who should take the Mavericks’ final shot in a Game 7 scenario? An in-depth analysis identifies the best options to trust in clutch moments. Discover the key players for the high-pressure situation. (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Los Angeles Lakers will meet the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center at 8:30 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
A Closer Look at Brice Sensabaugh’s Scoring Surge
Jan 5, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz guard Brice Sensabaugh (28) is interviewed by Seg Media reporter, Lauren Green following a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images | Russell Lansford/Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
One of the most intriguing developments on Sunday came from the Utah Jazz, where rookie Brice Sensabaugh has suddenly burst onto the scene with a scoring explosion.
Sensabaugh dropped 27 points against the Orlando Magic, following up a 34-point performance in his previous outing. That’s a staggering 61 points over two games for a player who had been largely off the fantasy radar. His usage rate has skyrocketed to over 30% in these contests, and he’s been scorching hot from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 17 three-point attempts.
However, before we rush to add Sensabaugh in all leagues, it’s crucial to examine the context of his breakout. The Jazz were missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson. This opened up a significant opportunity for Sensabaugh to showcase his scoring prowess.
The sustainability of Sensabaugh’s production is questionable. His three-point shooting percentage is bound to regress, and when the Jazz get healthier, his minutes and usage are likely to decrease. That said, he’s shown enough to warrant consideration as a streaming option in deeper leagues, particularly when Utah is shorthanded.
Click the button below for more insights, including another Thunder player to keep an eye on for your fantasy roster.
Nick Angstadt & Slightly Biased break down the Mavericks’ defensive struggles, Quentin Grimes’ impressive performance, and key contributions from Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington. He analyzes what went wrong for Dallas and highlights bright spots like Grimes’ 26-point outburst against an elite Cavs team featuring Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
The Dallas Mavericks set New Year’s resolutions for 2025, aiming to level up and win an NBA title. What do Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and the Mavs need to do to achieve their goals?
The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Sacramento Kings in a game without Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. How did the shorthanded Mavs perform against the struggling Kings in this NBA matchup?
