Dallas Mavericks received an unwelcome update on Thursday, with a report that Center Daniel Gafford will not return for at least six weeks due to a ligament destruction in his right knee.
Mavericks was already down in several other major men, including Anthony Davis (adductor tribe) and centers Dereck Lively II (crackled ankle) and Dwight Powell (HIP) before Gafford left Monday’s overtime loss to Sacramento Kings.
Gafford was diagnosed with a grade 3 pollution of MCL. The team expected an evaluation of fork words of about two weeks, but ESPN quoted named sources in Thursday’s reporting.
Gafford is an average of 12.3 points, 6.9 returns, 1.4 assists, 1.9 blocks and 21.9 minutes in 51 matches (28 starts) this season.
He is on average for his career 9.2 points, 5.6 returns, 1.0 assists, 1.6 blocks and 19.8 minutes in 372 matches (212 starts). Gafford, a second round of choice of Chicago in the NBA draft 2019, has played for Bulls (2019-21), Washington Wizards (2021-24) and Mavericks.
Dallas is eighth in the Western conference, which would put it in the play-in tournament. Mavericks has won four of his last five matches and hosts West Cellar-Dweller New Orleans on Friday night.
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