The Dallas Mavericks can’t catch a break this season. Anthony Davis has been out with an injury, but he’s not the only one. Every time they step on the court, it feels like another player goes down, another setback hits them, and another loss gets added to their rough season.
Their March 14 loss to the Houston Rockets was no different. The injury-riddled Mavericks got completely run off the floor in a brutal 133-96 rout.
But for Dallas fans, the real concern isn’t just the loss — it’s the ever-growing injury report that now reads like an NBA team’s full rotation.
Jason Kidd’s Update on Anthony Davis Offers Little Clarity
As if things weren’t already bad enough, the Mavericks still have no clear timeline for Davis’ return. Head coach Jason Kidd didn’t do much to reassure fans, offering an update that left more questions than answers.
Brad Townsend shared on X, “Kidd says Davis continues to trend in the right direction, but still no timetable.” That’s something, but it doesn’t offer much clarity on when the star big man might suit up again.
Kidd says Davis “continues to trend in the right direction,” but still no timetable.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) March 14, 2025
That’s not exactly what Dallas fans wanted to hear.
Davis, dealing with a left abductor strain, is just one of a growing list of Mavericks players stuck on the sidelines. Kyrie Irving is out with an ACL injury. Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Jaden Hardy are also out, while P.J. Washington, Dante Exum, Kai Jones, and Brandon Williams are listed as questionable.
At this point, the Mavericks’ injury list looks like a full-fledged hospital wing. With Dallas now sitting 10th in the Western Conference at 33-35, every game matters. But with their two biggest stars sidelined and nearly half their rotation banged up, how much longer can they keep treading water?
Rockets Expose Mavericks in 1-Sided Beatdown
If the Mavericks were hoping to steal a win despite their injuries, the Rockets had other plans. From the opening tip, it was clear this was going to be a long night for Dallas. Houston took control early and never let up, lighting up the Mavericks’ defense.
Tari Eason was dominant, scoring 30 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Jalen Green added 23 points, five assists, and nine rebounds.
For Dallas, there were some bright spots. Brandon Williams (25 points), Spencer Dinwiddie (20 points), and Naji Marshall (21 points) tried to keep things competitive. But without Davis or Irving on the floor, the Mavericks didn’t have much of a shot.
Now, with the Mavericks clinging to a play-in spot, their season is hanging by a thread. The road ahead doesn’t get any easier. And if Kidd’s vague update on Davis is any indication, Mavericks fans might be waiting a while before their team is back at full strength.
Dallas’ Rest-of-Season Outlook
With Davis, Irving, Lively, Gafford, and Exum among the players expected to miss significant time, what is Dallas’ outlook for the 2024-25 season?
With a 33-35 record, the Mavericks are 4.5 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Sitting at No. 10, the Mavs are in the play-in picture even if just barely, holding a 1.5 game lead on the 11th-seeded Phoenix Suns and a 4.5-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers.
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However, the team does face the ninth-easiest remaining strength of schedule this season (.488), according to Tankathon, meaning a play-in spot is still within reach if not realistic. However, the team is 2-8 in its last 10 contests and has an offensive rating of just 110.5 over that stretch, 29th in the NBA over each team’s previous 10 contests.
With the 28th-best defensive rating to boot (123.9), it’s difficult to see the Mavericks making any noise over the backstretch of the season, especially if their rash of injuries persists. However, Dallas fans can take solace in the 2025 NBA Draft being one in which the front office controls its own pick, meaning a difficult final 14 games could mean a potential new star on the way.