Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson will miss his third consecutive game on Saturday against the Utah Jazz due to a left foot plantar fascia injury, according to Mavs insider Joey Mistretta. Thompson has been sidelined for the team’s past two games and will not be returning to action in the near future.
The Mavericks are coming off a rough stretch in early November, which included a four-game losing streak against Phoenix, Denver, Golden State, and Utah. However, Dallas has bounced back, winning six of their last seven games. Despite Thompson’s absence and Luka Dončić also dealing with a wrist injury, the Mavericks have managed to stay competitive.
Dallas’ recent success has been buoyed by several players stepping up in key areas. In Brett Siegel’s latest NBA Power Rankings update, the Mavericks climbed from No. 13 to No. 10, largely thanks to dominant wins over teams like the Pelicans and Nuggets. However, Siegel notes that the Mavericks’ offensive inconsistency remains a concern, with Thompson struggling from three-point range (just 34.5%) and Kyrie Irving also facing shooting struggles. The absence of Dončić has only intensified the pressure on the team to find offensive rhythm.
On the positive side, players like PJ Washington, Naji Marshall, and the big-man duo of Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford have helped stabilize the team. Lively, in particular, has emerged as a standout, shooting 72.9% from the field over his last seven games and contributing 15 blocks during that stretch.
Spencer Dinwiddie, who has played crucial minutes off the bench, spoke about the Mavericks’ team-first mentality, emphasizing the importance of communication and adapting to the team’s needs. Dinwiddie contributed 22 points, three rebounds, and nine assists in the Mavericks’ 129-114 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
