The Mavericks got the result they wanted Sunday night, rolling past the Brooklyn Nets to move to 6-4. But the win didn’t do much to quiet the bigger issue hovering over Dallas: the backcourt behind Kyrie Irving is still thin, and Sergio De Larrea’s latest injury update only makes that more obvious.
De Larrea has now missed six straight games after going down against the Miami Heat on October 28. The team first labeled the injury a “right knee strain,” then later changed it to a “right knee sprain.” Either way, the rookie guard has been stuck on the sideline, and the timeline doesn’t sound encouraging.
Before the game against Brooklyn, Dusty May was asked about De Larrea and said he would be re-evaluated next week. That’s a step back from last week’s update, when May said De Larrea would be re-evaluated this week. The shift pushes the return window further out, and with the injury now two weeks old, it doesn’t look like a quick comeback is coming.
May said De Larrea has been working out in the weight room and looks strong, but he also noted that he is in a brace.
That matters because Dallas needs bodies and playmaking behind Irving, who won’t be available every night. The Mavericks spent much of the offseason with just De Larrea and Marcus Sasser as backup point guards before signing Walter Clayton Jr. on opening night. Clayton has helped steady that spot and has become one of the first players off the bench, while Naji Marshall has been playing better too.
De Larrea showed what he can add when Irving missed the San Antonio Spurs game on October 24. In that outing, his third career game, he put up 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
His floater and 3-point shot both stood out, and he looked comfortable scoring off the catch or off the dribble. He also flashed the playmaking that makes him useful beyond just scoring.
At 6-foot-6, he brings size that most guards simply don’t have. He can operate on or off the ball, and his ability to throw lobs gives Dallas another layer it can use when he’s healthy.
If De Larrea were closer to returning, May would have more options to mix and match behind Irving. Clayton, De Larrea, and Marshall could form a flexible backup group, and Sasser could still be used in certain spots when Dallas needs extra shooting or shot creation. But Sasser has fallen out of the rotation, and for now the Mavericks have to keep making do without De Larrea.
Clayton’s emergence and Marshall’s versatility have given Dallas more than it expected from that group, but De Larrea’s absence still leaves the backcourt short on depth. Until he gets that next re-evaluation, the Mavericks will have to lean on what they have.
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