Mavs big man to miss time with ankle injury

Already missing top scorers Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks had another key rotation player go down with an injury during Monday’s loss in Memphis.

With 8:26 left in the second quarter, center Daniel Gafford turned his left ankle when he came down on Grizzlies forward John Konchar‘s foot while battling for a rebound. After a moment on the floor in pain, Gafford limped to the locker room and didn’t return.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Kidd acknowledged that the team expects to be without Gafford for a while.

“A sprained ankle, I think it is, so we’ll see how he feels. But he’s probably going to be out for some time,” Kidd said with a sigh. “That’s just part of the game. Unfortunately, it’s happening to us — it seems like we’re losing a guy each day. So, next-man-up mentality.”

Gafford has shared center duties with Dereck Lively this season, starting 15 of 35 games and averaging a career-high 11.7 points per game with a league-leading 71.8% field goal percentage. He has also contributed 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 20.1 minutes per night.

Gafford’s return timeline is unclear, but Maxi Kleber — who started Monday’s game — figures to continue playing an increased role, with P.J. Washington seeing some time at center in small-ball lineups. Veteran big man Dwight Powell will also move up the depth chart in Gafford’s absence.

The shorthanded Mavericks will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak when they host the Lakers on Tuesday on the second night of a back-to-back set.