The Dallas Mavericks visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday with both teams monitoring multiple injury concerns, including the status of De’Aaron Fox and Dallas center Dereck Lively II. The game comes two days after San Antonio secured a 135-123 road win in the most recent meeting between the division rivals.
Dallas enters the matchup short-handed in the frontcourt, with Lively II ruled out following right foot surgery, leaving Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell to handle most of the interior minutes. Kyrie Irving remains sidelined after left knee surgery.
The Mavericks have several players listed under trade-related designations, including Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson and Tyus Jones as probable, while Khris Middleton is doubtful due to trade pending status. Two-way players Moussa Cisse, Miles Kelly and Ryan Nembhard are also unlikely to be available, limiting depth for a team that has lost six straight games and sits 12th in the Western Conference at 19-32.
San Antonio’s injury report centers on Fox, who is listed as questionable due to mid-thoracic soreness after averaging 19.6 points and 6.3 assists this season. Jeremy Sochan and Luke Kornet are also questionable.
Wembanyama anchors the Spurs’ offense with 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, while Stephon Castle provides secondary playmaking with 16.5 points and 6.9 assists. Devin Vassell adds perimeter scoring at 14.3 points per game.
The Spurs, currently second in the Western Conference at 35-16, enter on a three-game winning streak after defeating Oklahoma City and Dallas in consecutive outings. Their previous two wins over the Mavericks this season — including a 125-92 result in October — have been driven by pace and efficient three-point shooting.
