The Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to build what appeared to be a formidable front court in the NBA. With Anthony Davis being a 10-time All-Star, he was set to return to his preferred power forward position along with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford covering the center role.

However, complications arose as Davis got injured with an adductor strain in his very first game with the Mavericks, sidelining him for weeks. Meanwhile, the well-established Maverick, Dwight Powell, is down with a hip issue, out for 12 games.

In a recent game against the Sacramento Kings, Gafford fell to a knee injury while setting a screen for Spencer Dinwiddie. Required to leave the game, he has now been officially ruled out with a right knee sprain. He is scheduled for reevaluation in two weeks, as reported by Shams Charania at ESPN.

Gafford down - MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) February 11, 2025

Injury woes leave the Mavericks in a challenging situation with the record standing at 28-26 and barely hanging on to a playoff spot. The absence of Doncic, compounded by multiple player injuries, puts immense pressure on their defensive capabilities. Thankfully, there’s an upcoming All-Star break that might ease their plight and provide time for some players to recover.

Gafford has indeed been a stellar performer this season, recording a career-high of 12.5 points per game while delivering solid rebounding and shot-blocking stats in about 22 minutes per match. The chemistry he developed with Davis in their first game was promising before both succumbed to injuries, now the Mavericks are hoping for a swift return.