The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics enter their Friday night matchup at TD Garden with several key players on the injury report, creating uncertainty ahead of the 7:00 p.m. ET tipoff.
Boston holds a 41-21 record and sits second in the Eastern Conference, while Dallas arrives at 21-41 and currently ranks 12th in the Western Conference standings.
The Mavericks continue to deal with long-term absences in their backcourt and frontcourt, headlined by Kyrie Irving. The veteran guard remains out after left knee surgery.
Irving’s absence has shifted offensive responsibility to rookie forward Cooper Flagg, who leads the Mavericks with 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game across 50 starts this season.
Dallas could also be short-handed in the frontcourt. Center Daniel Gafford is listed as doubtful due to right ankle injury management.
Gafford has averaged 8.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 62.6 percent from the field, making him one of the team’s most efficient interior finishers.
Forward Marvin Bagley III is also doubtful with a neck sprain. Bagley has appeared in seven games and is averaging 13.0 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 61.3 percent from the field.
The Mavericks remain without center Dereck Lively II, who is out following right foot surgery.
Several Dallas players hold uncertain availability because of two-way assignments. Moussa Cisse, John Poulakidas and Tyler Smith are each listed as questionable while moving between the NBA roster and the G League.
Cisse has played 33 games and averages 3.7 points and 4.8 rebounds while providing rim protection in reserve minutes.
Dallas does expect several rotation players to be available. Klay Thompson is listed as probable despite a right adductor contusion. The 35-year-old wing averages 11.7 points per game and shoots 38.4 percent from three-point range.
Guard Brandon Williams is also probable with a left quad contusion. He contributes 13.1 points and 3.8 assists while helping stabilize the Mavericks’ ball-handling depth.
Boston’s injury report centers on Jayson Tatum, who is listed as questionable due to a right Achilles repair.
If Tatum is unavailable, the Celtics would rely more heavily on Jaylen Brown, who leads the team with 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
Payton Pritchard provides additional playmaking for Boston with 16.8 points and 5.3 assists, while Derrick White adds 17.3 points and 5.7 assists from the backcourt.
Jordan Walsh is also listed as questionable because of an illness. The forward averages 5.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game.
Baylor Scheierman is available despite a left thumb fracture. The guard has played 57 games and averages 4.6 points while shooting 37.3 percent from three-point range.
The Celtics won the first meeting between the teams this season on February 3, defeating Dallas 110-100.
Both teams enter the game looking to respond after recent losses, with Boston falling to the Charlotte Hornets on March 4 and Dallas dropping a one-point game to the Orlando Magic on March 5.
