The Dallas Mavericks will face the Miami Heat on Sunday night, with Dallas holding a 9-7 record and Miami at 6-7 to start the 2024-25 season. Luka Dončić, who is nursing a right wrist sprain, has already been ruled out for the game. However, the Mavs received another injury update on Saturday regarding center Daniel Gafford.
Gafford has been added to the injury report due to left shoulder soreness and was listed as questionable. Fortunately, he has been cleared to play in Sunday’s matchup against the Heat.
The 24-year-old has been performing at a high level this season, averaging a career-best 12.6 points per game on an impressive 70.8% shooting from the field, which leads the league. In addition, Gafford is contributing 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.
Since joining the Mavericks before the 2023-24 trade deadline, Gafford has become an important piece for the team, making his availability for Sunday’s game against Miami a significant development.
Dallas enters the game on a four-game winning streak, most recently defeating the Denver Nuggets 123-120 on Friday, despite Dončić being sidelined. Luka is expected to be re-evaluated sometime next week, but he will miss both Sunday’s game and Monday’s matchup against the Hawks in Atlanta. He is also likely to sit out the Mavs’ home game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
As for Gafford, the hope is that his shoulder issue won’t be serious and that he can continue to contribute, especially with a tough challenge ahead against Bam Adebayo and the Heat.
