Surrealism in Dallas: post-Doncic missing Mavs

The post-Luka Doncic era in Dallas is proving, to put it mildly, painful. The Texas franchise has now lost 10 of 16 games since trading the Slovenian star to the Los Angeles Lakers. The last five have all been defeats, but none more brutal than Sunday’s 125-116 home loss to the Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Center – a game that saw head coach Jason Kidd literally run out of substitutions with six minutes left on the clock.

Jason Kidd left helpless with Mavs

Things got so bad that Kidd was forced to send out Kessler Edwards, sporting a bandage over his left eye, just to have five players on the court. The reason? A relentless plague of injuries decimating the Mavericks roster. Going into the game, Dallas was already missing eight players, and two more went down during the match. To make matters worse, another two were on strict minutes restrictions as they continue to recover from their own injuries.

In total, the Mavericks started the game against Phoenix with just nine active players – and ended it with only five healthy enough to stand on court.

Let’s recap that grim list: Anthony Davis (left adductor strain), Daniel Gafford (right knee sprain), Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Kyrie Irving (torn ACL in left knee), Kai Jones (left quad strain), Dereck Lively II (stress fracture in right ankle), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right wrist sprain), and P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain).

To that already staggering injury report, add Dwight Powell, who had to leave the game after receiving seven stitches in his forehead following a collision with Edwards, and Brandon Williams, who limped off with hamstring pain. Meanwhile, Dante Exum and Caleb Martin couldn’t take the floor for the final half of the fourth quarter due to minutes limits – a complete disaster for Kidd’s squad.

The only five players left standing at the end? Edwards (far from 100% himself), Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson, Max Christie, and Spencer Dinwiddie.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Kidd said afterward. “I’ve never been in a game where we couldn’t sub anyone out to get them a rest because we had no one left to put in. Usually, you look down the bench and find someone. Tonight, if they weren’t in street clothes, they were in the back getting stitches or couldn’t even walk. It’s tough. But it is what it is. We have to keep going.”

Kidd will now be forced to activate Powell for Monday’s matchup against San Antonio just to scrape together a roster of eight.

With a free roster spot and this many injuries, signing at least a 10-day contract player would seem like an obvious move. But the Mavericks can’t do it – they’re just $51,000 under the luxury tax threshold, and a 10-day contract would cost $119,972, pushing them over the limit.

“We can’t sign anyone,” Kidd admitted. “You either laugh or this’ll drive you crazy.”

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