The Dallas Mavericks are currently facing difficulties, having lost four straight games, each by three points or fewer. Their latest defeat came against the Utah Jazz on Thursday, with a final score of 115-113. Kyrie Irving, who was sidelined on Thursday due to a shoulder injury, is expected to return for Saturday’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.
Irving is not on the NBA injury report, while Luka Doncic (right knee contusion) is listed as probable, and PJ Washington (right knee sprain) is doubtful for the game. Dante Exum remains unavailable as he recovers from right wrist surgery. Irving was initially marked as questionable for the game on Thursday but was ultimately ruled out before tip-off. The Mavericks suffered a surprising loss to a Jazz team that had only two wins before this match. Although Utah now stands at 3-8, they managed to pull off an upset against the defending Western Conference champions. The Mavericks have been grappling with frustration lately, particularly in critical moments and the final minutes of games, where they have struggled to perform. Last season, they were much more reliable in those clutch situations.
It’s clear that the Mavericks need to develop strategies for winning close games moving forward. Given the talent on their roster, it’s reasonable to expect they will improve. However, with a 5-7 record to start the 2024-25 season, frustration is starting to set in for this Mavericks team. Fortunately, if there are no setbacks, Kyrie Irving is expected to play on Saturday against the Spurs. The Mavericks will be facing the Spurs at home on Saturday night at 8:30 PM EST. Dallas previously defeated San Antonio 120-109 on Opening Night, and they could definitely benefit from a similar performance this time around.
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