Mavs ‘hope’ for return Friday vs. Nuggets

Kristaps Porzingis missed the Mavericks game against Spurs on Thursday – his first injury break of the season – but don’t assume he will be out for long.

Before the game, manager Jason Kidd said the team will reevaluate Porzingis ‘lower back tension on Friday morning in Denver to see if he will return against the Mavericks’ second game, the Nuggets.

“I think it’s more on the managed side to take that precaution,” said Kidd of Porzingis, who sat against the Spurs. “We have a game tomorrow night so hopefully we can see him tomorrow and hope he can go.”

Porzingis, who missed 29 of the Mavericks’ 72 regular season games last season, left the win against the Rockets in the third quarter on Tuesday night due to lower back tension. Kidd said he didn’t know how or when the problem started.

The day after Porzingis worked on conditioning the lower body weight during Wednesday’s training session, which was open to reporters, he wore a gray suit on the bench while watching his teammates play the Spurs.

In place of Porzingis, Reggie Bullock began his first game with Dallas, as the Mavericks relied on a smaller line-up.

Porzingis was one of several Mavericks who were absent from San Antonio.

Substitute shooter Sterling Brown suffered an ankle sprain Wednesday and is being examined “day in and day out,” Kidd said.

Reserve Point Guard Trey Burke, the only Mavericks player not to have taken the COVID-19 vaccine, entered the NBA’s health and safety log on Thursday for missing steps in the league’s extensive daily log for unvaccinated players. Kidd said Burke will be allowed to travel to Denver with the team late Thursday night.

Injury issues won’t be resolved in Denver – even if Porzingis returns.

The Nuggets listed reigning MVP Nikola Jokic as questionable to play on Friday after sustaining a bruise to his right knee Tuesday night.

More Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News can be found here.

[ad_1]