The Mavericks were again without three sidelined players Sunday in Macao, as injuries continued to shape the team’s second straight preseason game.
Big men Santi Aldama and Dereck Lively II remained out while they recover from surgeries on the right knee and right foot, respectively. Guard Marcus Sasser also sat with left adductor soreness.
Head coach Dusty May offered a brief update on Lively before the game. The 22-year-old center, who is eligible for a rookie scale extension until October 19, has appeared in only 43 combined games over the last two seasons, including just seven last year.
“ I’ll defer to the medical staff on that. I know this, he’s moving well,” May said.
“ We see him regularly getting treatment, doing things on the court. There’s just a return to play protocol that everyone goes through.
It’s a little bit unique, but he’s in good spirits.
“ He’s working every day, and whenever he’s back, he’s going to have a major impact on this team.”
Elsewhere around the league, Dejounte Murray sat out practice with the Pelicans on Saturday after already missing Thursday’s preseason game because of a toe contusion. Head coach Jamahl Mosley called the situation “precautionary” and said the team is still monitoring how Murray responds to treatment.
“We’re just going to keep evaluating him and how he responds to the treatment we’re giving him,” Mosley said. “So right now, to try to gauge whether it is playing or not playing, we’re 10 days into training camp. So I’ll evaluate that once we start to get into regular season games.”
Tyrese Haliburton’s return also hit a small bump. The Pacers guard, back in action Wednesday after nearly 16 months away from a torn Achilles tendon, tweaked his right ankle in the game against Minnesota and had an MRI that came back clean.
Rick Carlisle called it a “mild tweak of the right ankle” and said Haliburton is still improving, though he sat out the loss to Atlanta and was limited in practice Friday. “Just going to be a matter of him working through it,” Carlisle said.
In San Antonio, Spurs second-year forward Carter Bryant rolled his right ankle in the first half of Saturday’s loss to Phoenix after stepping on a teammate’s foot. He did not return for the second half and was ruled out for the rest of the game, though Jeff McDonald reported the injury does not appear serious and may have been a cautious decision by the team.
In Other News...
Mavericks Keep Giving One Young Big Man Another Look
The Mavericks have spent the early part of camp cycling through the back end of their preseason roster, and the 21st spot has become a revolving door for a string of young players. Dallas has signed and waived Matt Cross, Darin Green Jr. and Chris Mantis along the way, a pretty clear sign the team is keeping its options open while sorting through developmental depth.
Jorge Diaz Graham is the latest big man to get another look, and there is at least some indication the Mavericks want to keep him around for a while. The broader picture is familiar for this time of year: Dallas is auditioning prospects, while other teams are making similar housekeeping moves, including the Clippers bringing back Fletcher Loyer on an Exhibit 10 deal and the Jazz opening a spot after waiving Mohamed Wague. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Gave This Stretch Big A Real Chance To Earn More
The Mavericks gave Jorge Diaz Graham a real look this preseason, signing the stretch big and assigning him jersey No. 23 after he spent summer with the team. He had already shown enough in Las Vegas to keep himself in the conversation, flashing shooting touch and the kind of forward-center versatility that can make a young big useful in a modern rotation.
Now the challenge gets sharper with only the final two preseason games left to make another impression. Diaz Graham is still competing against the rest of the camp bodies for limited opportunities, but there is at least a path to a two-way contract if he can keep standing out in the minutes he gets. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Just Made Their Two-Way Wing Battle Even Tougher
The Mavericks added another name to the mix on the wing, signing 6-foot-7 forward Matt Cross and bringing their preseason roster to 21 players. Cross is expected to be around for the teams final two preseason games, giving Dallas one more look at a player whose appeal comes from activity, rebounding, energy and a workable shot.
For a roster still sorting out its depth, Cross only adds to the pressure on the clubs two-way wing competition. His spot in the regular-season picture is far from settled, but the signing does increase the number of options Dallas has on the perimeter as the preseason winds down and decisions get closer. [Read more 🡒]