Southwest Notes: Mavericks, Gafford, Irving, Rockets, Morant
Tonight’s game in Mexico City is an important part of the NBA’s international outreach and a chance for the Mavericks to build their fan base in the neighboring nation, writes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). The Mavs’ contest against Detroit marks their eighth appearance in Mexico and the NBA’s 33rd overall since 1992.
“For fans outside of the U.S., the opportunity for them to enjoy a live experience of an NBA game is very limited,” said Raul Zarraga, vice president and managing director of NBA Mexico. “This is part of our commitment to provide this live experience to fans all around the world.”
Dwight Powell, the only player left on the roster from the Mavericks’ last trip to Mexico during the 2019/20 season, recalls the crowd being “extremely energetic.” Zarraga said Mexican fans as a group don’t have a strong rooting interest in any franchise, but they tend to like the three Texas teams as well as those with successful histories such as the Bulls, Lakers and Heat.
One of tonight’s top attractions will be No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, who’s looking forward to playing in front of an international crowd.
“I’ve been to Cancun one time for a vacation, but other than that, I’ve never been to Mexico,” Flagg said. “I’m excited. I’ve heard it’s really beautiful. Detroit’s a really good team, so it should be a competitive, high-level game.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Daniel Gafford is in the Mavericks‘ starting lineup as he makes his season debut, but coach Jason Kidd said he’ll be restricted to about 15-18 minutes, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (Twitter link). D’Angelo Russell is also active after being listed as questionable with a left knee contusion.
- Asked about Kyrie Irving at tonight’s pregame press conference, Kidd hinted that his star guard could be back in action before the end of the year, Curtis tweets. “We just can’t wait to get Kai back, at some point,” Kidd said. “Hopefully it’s in the year of ’25, not ’26. We’ll see what happens, but I think those two (Irving/Flagg) will be a perfect match in the backcourt.”
- Rockets coach Ime Udoka is still working out his rotation and is trying to create more playing time for backup center Clint Capela, according to Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Udoka added that there’s still no timetable for Dorian Finney-Smith, who is recovering from offseason ankle surgery, but he and Jae’Sean Tate will get a chance to earn rotation roles when they’re fully healthy. Tate is currently restricted to 15 minutes per game.
- The Grizzlies have already reached a turning point in their season after today’s one-game suspension of Ja Morant, contends Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Cole states that Morant seemed “disengaged” during Friday’s loss to the Lakers, and he was upset after a post-game interaction with coach Tuomas Iisalo, who is known for being direct with players. Cole adds that the season could unravel quickly if Morant, Iisalo and Jaren Jackson Jr. don’t work together as leaders.
Mavs’ Daniel Gafford To Make Season Debut Saturday
Mavericks center Daniel Gafford will make his 2025/26 season debut on Saturday in Mexico City against Detroit, he told reporters, including Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News and Christian Clark of The Athletic (Twitter links).
“Of course. Yeah,” The 27-year-old big man said. “Of course. Just taking my time.”
Gafford said he sprained his right ankle on the first day of training camp in late September when he landed on Anthony Davis‘ foot in one of the team’s first drills (Twitter video link via Curtis). He was originally expected to miss two-to-three weeks, but has now been out for just over a month.
“It’s been a lot of ups and downs,” Gafford said. ” … Couldn’t really control it. … It wasn’t something anyone was planning on happening but as they say, ‘stuff happens.’“
As Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal writes, Gafford is officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s game, as is guard D’Angelo Russell, who is dealing with a left knee contusion he sustained in Wednesday’s win vs. Indiana. Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) will miss his third straight game, with Anthony Davis (calf strain), Kyrie Irving (recovering from ACL surgery) and Dante Exum (right knee injury management) out as well.
Gafford averaged a career-high 12.3 points per game last season, along with 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, but injuries limited him to 57 games. He sat out 21 straight contests with a sprained knee late in ’24/25, but was able to return in early April.
The former second-round pick’s offseason was highlighted by a three-year, $54MM extension that runs through the ’28/29 season.
Anthony Davis Out At Least Two Games With Calf Strain
Mavericks big man Anthony Davis has been diagnosed with a low grade left calf strain and will miss at least two games before being reexamined, the team announced today (Twitter link).
Davis underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the injury, which he sustained in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game against Indiana. He was held out of the remainder of that two-point win for precautionary reasons, per the Mavs.
The 32-year-old forward/center will be sidelined for Saturday’s contest in Mexico City against the Pistons and Monday’s game at Houston. According to Carlos Rodriguez of The Associated Press, Davis traveled with the team to Mexico City and attended Friday’s practice.
“It is going to be day-to-day,” said Davis. “But I feel better that is for sure.”
The diagnosis is probably close to a best-case scenario for Dallas. The 10-time All-Star entered Wednesday’s game with a sore Achilles, so it’s welcome news that nothing catastrophic occurred.
Davis has been hobbled by injuries throughout his decorated career, having played between 36 and 56 games in four of the past five seasons. He made just nine appearances for Dallas in 2024/25 after being acquired in February in the shocking blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
Anthony Davis Leaves Game With Soreness In Left Leg
Mavericks big man Anthony Davis exited Wednesday’s game against Indiana in the first quarter and was eventually ruled out with lower left leg soreness, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Davis played at least 32 minutes in each of Dallas’ first four games, but he was on the injury report prior to Wednesday’s contest, listed as probable due to bilateral Achilles tendinopathy.
According to MacMahon, Davis reacted in pain when he landed after scoring a basket. He was removed from the game when the Mavericks called time out with 4:12 left in the quarter and was taken to the locker room to be evaluated.
“He tried to return. Didn’t wanna take any chances. We’ll see how he feels going forward,” coach Jason Kidd told reporters after the game, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (Twitter link).
Davis has a long history of injuries that have affected what has otherwise been a brilliant career. He appeared in 76 games during the 2023/24 season, but apart from that he hasn’t exceeded 60 since 2020.
He was only available for nine games last season after Dallas acquired him from the Lakers as the centerpiece of the controversial Luka Doncic trade. He suffered an adductor strain during his debut with the Mavs that sidelined him for 18 games.
Davis came into training camp healthy, except for the need to wear goggles for the rest of his career after undergoing a procedure in July to repair a detached retina in his right eye.
Any Davis injury would be unwelcome news for the Mavericks, who played Wednesday without centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. Lively is dealing with a right knee sprain, while Gafford has a sprained right ankle and hasn’t played yet this season.
Brandon Williams Apologizes For Marijuana Arrest
Prior to Wednesday’s game, Mavericks guard Brandon Williams addressed the media with a statement apologizing for his arrest on a marijuana possession charge Saturday at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, relays Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
“I wanted to apologize, first and foremost,” Williams said. “Obviously, it’s an ongoing situation. I can’t really go further into detail about it, but I just want to apologize for being a distraction, especially at a time coming in 0-2. It wasn’t the ideal time at all, but I want to take full accountability. I want to take full responsibility and it’s time to move on now.”
In a full story for The Dallas Morning News (subscription required), Curtis, Kellen Bulger and Matt Kyle report that police were summoned by a TSA screener who said a black container with about 1.5 ounces of marijuana was found inside Williams’ suitcase.
Williams admitted it was his bag, but claimed his manager packed it and indicated he wasn’t aware of the contents. He was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana under two ounces. The Mavericks refused to comment on the situation.
The authors note that Williams missed the past two games for personal reasons, and an Instagram post reveals that he lost a close friend and former high school teammate to leukemia at the end of September.
Head coach Jason Kidd told reporters that Williams had been away from the team for a memorial service, Curtis adds (Twitter link).
“Going to a funeral for a friend’s passing and having that incident, that’s something that he has to deal with and we can only be here to support him,” Kidd said.
Now in his third year with Dallas, Williams is coming off a promising season where he saw extended minutes at point guard after Kyrie Irving was lost with a torn ACL. He averaged 8.3 points and 2.3 assists in 33 games to help the short-handed Mavs reach the play-in tournament and had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal in April.
Williams was kept on the roster for this season even though his $2.3MM contract only carried a $200K guarantee before opening night. It’s currently guaranteed at $850K until the league-wide guarantee date of January 10. He has made two brief appearances so far and has yet to score.
Southwest Notes: Okogie, Adams, Flagg, Mavs, G. Jackson
After using a jumbo starting lineup in their first two games of the season – both losses – the Rockets made a change on Monday, swapping in veteran wing Josh Okogie for center Steven Adams. As head coach Ime Udoka explained before the game, per Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required), he wanted a look at a smaller, more defensive-minded starting five.
“(Okogie) knows his role. He’s keeping it simple,” Udoka said. “Brings the physicality and aggressiveness on the defensive side of the ball. Knows how to play off other guys and then fits in with the areas we like: crashing the glass, slashing, making plays, second opportunities, and kind of gives Amen (Thompson) a break on ball at times.”
The change paid off, as Houston picked up its first win of the season. And while the sample size is very small, the Rockets’ lineup that features Okogie alongside Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. has an impressive +29.2 net rating in its first 13 minutes together.
Still, it’s worth noting that Monday’s victory came against the Nets, who didn’t put up much resistance against any lineups the Rockets used. Additionally, Houston has a +18.2 net rating in 59 minutes through three games with Sengun and Adams sharing the court, so Udoka figures to continue leaning on that pairing going forward.
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg hurt his shoulder early in Monday’s game and appeared to be struggling with the injury after returning to the court, making just 1-of-9 shots on the night. However, he’s not on the injury report for Wednesday’s matchup with Indiana, so it sounds like he’s good to go, tweets Christian Clark of The Athletic. Dallas will likely be without its starting center for a second straight game though, as Dereck Lively II is listed as doubtful due to a right knee sprain.
- Dallas’ NBA and NHL teams are at odds, as the Mavericks filed suit against the NHL’s Dallas Stars on Tuesday, claiming that the club is in breach of its agreement with the American Airlines Center and has obstructed maintenance and upgrades to the arena the team shares. Brad Townsend and Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News have the details on that lawsuit in an in-depth story on the two clubs’ dysfunctional relationship. Assimakopoulos published a separate Morning News story about the Stars countersuing the Mavs on Wednesday, writing that the NHL team alleges the Mavs are attempting a “hostile takeover” of the arena.
- GG Jackson II had a breakout rookie season for the Grizzlies as a 19-year-old in 2023/24, but has seen his playing time decline significantly since then, even as the club has dealt with a series of injuries depleting its rotation. Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal takes a closer look at Jackson’s efforts to earn regular minutes, noting that the Grizzlies have challenged the third-year forward to improve his defense. “GG is always very valuable for us,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said ahead of the season. “It’s easy to forget that he’s still the youngest player in our roster, even though he’s a third-year professional. He’s worked incredibly hard the whole summer. He’s looking to become a complete basketball player, and he’s taking the steps in the right direction.”
Cooper Flagg Hurts Shoulder, Kept On Bench Late In Game
Monday marked the worst night of Cooper Flagg‘s brief NBA career, beginning with an injury on the first play of the game and ending with him watching from the bench as the Mavericks tried to complete a comeback against Oklahoma City, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Flagg managed to play 31 minutes, but he wore a large wrap on his left shoulder and treated it with heat whenever he came out. He received medical treatment after the game and told reporters that he’s optimistic about playing Wednesday against Indiana.
“We’re going to probably get some scans or whatever, make sure everything’s all clean, but I feel like it’s just a little sore,” Flagg said. “Just want to keep an eye on it, ice it, do some rehab and should be good to go.”
Flagg hurt his shoulder while battling for a rebound with Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein and was in obvious discomfort for the rest of the night, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). He finished with two points and shot just 1-of-9 from the field, leading to coach Jason Kidd‘s decision to keep him out of the game in crunch time as Dallas nearly overtook OKC after trailing by 22 points.
It also marked Flagg’s first back-to-back in the NBA after he scored 22 points on Sunday in a win over Toronto.
“I think in general, one of the biggest differences from college to this level is handling and preparing for a back-to-back like that, physically,” he said. “That was something I was going through tonight anyway, just being a little flat. A little banged up, but you gotta find ways to play through it to be successful.”
If Flagg has to miss any time, he would be the latest addition to the Mavs’ growing injury list. Centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford were both unavailable for Monday’s game, so Kidd gave Max Christie his first start of the season.
Kidd complimented Flagg for showing that he’s a “tough kid” by playing through pain, but said his decision to sit him late in the game was made to give Dallas the best chance to win. Flagg, who has been considered one of the top players in the country dating back to high school and has never experienced that situation before, said he understands.
“The way the game was going, we had a group out there that was doing really well and was on a run, so I see where Coach was at with that,” Flagg said. “And I mean, I was flat. I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t impacting the game at a high level, wasn’t doing the right stuff. So obviously, that’s an easy decision for Coach. He was just out there trying to win the game.”
Mavericks Notes: Aguirre, Russell, Flagg, Lively
The Mavericks are retiring Mark Aguirre‘s No. 24 jersey on January 29, 2026, the team announced today (Twitter video link).
Dallas selected Aguirre with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 draft. He played parts of eight seasons for the Mavs, averaging 24.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 566 games and making three All-Star appearances before being traded to Detroit in 1989. He went on to win back-to-back championships as a role player with the Pistons.
In a phone interview with Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News, Aguirre became emotional multiple times when discussing the jersey retirement. He first found out the news before Wednesday’s season opener.
“I’m sorry about that,” he said. “After so long, it’s still a little shocking to me. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
As Townsend notes, Aguirre will be the fifth former Maverick to have his jersey hang in the rafters of the American Airlines Center, joining Derek Harper (No. 12), Brad Davis (No. 15), Rolando Blackman (No. 22) and Dirk Nowitzki (No. 41).
Townsend asked whether returning to Dallas this summer ahead of the 2025 draft and the news of having his jersey retired has brought closure for Aguirre after spending many years away from the franchise.
“Well, I think it opens it up really, to the fact that I am a Maverick,” Aguirre said. “Yes, I went to Detroit and it was a good stay, but I’m a Maverick. You know? I’m a Maverick. I am.”
Here’s more on the Mavericks:
- Free agent addition D’Angelo Russell got off to a slow start with the Mavs, playing just 12.0 minutes per contest in the team’s first two losses and going 1-of-9 from the field. He bounced back in Sunday’s victory over Toronto, recording 24 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Russell was a game-high plus-26 in the 10-point victory. “True professional,” Anthony Davis said of Russell. “He’s been in this league long enough. He never wavered. He stayed with the team. He stayed with himself, stayed locked in and came and made plays for us today. He came in and definitely changed the game. I’ve been a teammate of his for a couple of years and I know his ability to change the game and what he can do offensively.”
- Top pick Cooper Flagg had the best game of his young career on Sunday, finishing with 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers in 29 minutes. He also had the game’s top highlight (YouTube link), an and-one dunk over Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “The fans have showed up for the first three games, and I thought tonight was really the first time we gave ’em something to be excited for and be on their feet for,” Flagg said.
- Flagg may have suffered a left shoulder injury in Monday’s game vs. Oklahoma City. He had the shoulder heavily wrapped during a timeout, Curtis tweets, but was able to check back into the game shortly thereafter, notes Marc Stein (via Twitter).
- Starting center Dereck Lively II suffered a right knee contusion on Sunday, causing him to leave the win early, and was out for Monday’s contest as well. Davis started in the middle with Daniel Gafford still recovering from a right ankle sprain, as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays.
Texas Notes: Popovich, Harper, Flagg, Mavs Fans
The Spurs have unveiled a banner in honor of former head coach Gregg Popovich, according to The Associated Press. The team honored the legendary coach ahead of its home opener against the Nets today.
The banner was not accompanied by a celebration or ceremony, in keeping with Popovich’s wishes and style. In understated fashion fitting for the team and person it’s honoring, the banner simply read: “Pop 1,390,” in reference to his 1390 wins, the most of any coach in NBA history, followed by “Hall of Fame,” as tribute to his 2023 induction.
“I think it’s very Pop-esque,” Mitch Johnson, who is currently in the midst of his first full season as the Spurs head coach, said of the unflashy ceremony.
Popovich took out an ad on page A12 of the San Antonio Express-News today to express his gratitude to the fanbase, relays Mike Finger of the Express-News (via Twitter).
“While I will miss being on the sidelines, I’m content knowing this transition came at a time when we were fortunate to have Mitch Johnson in place, ready to take over the program,” Popovich wrote. “All of us across the organization are excited to, once again, experience the good times together. Thank you for all the great years and here’s to many more.”
We have more from around the world of Texas hoops:
- The Spurs were on the cusp of blowing a 26-point lead to the Nets on Sunday — then Dylan Harper happened, writes Jeff McDonald of the Express-News. Harper finished his third game as a professional with 20 points and eight assists off the bench, and his teammates felt that he helped turn the tide. “He’s making all the right plays,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said. “When we had that little slump in the second half, he came in and bought that spark.” Mitch Johnson was thrilled with Harper’s performance on both ends of the court against Brooklyn. “I think his offense was really good and obviously his stat line will represent that,” the Spurs’ coach said. “But I thought his defense was better than his offense.”
- Cooper Flagg spoke about the Mavericks‘ 0-for-2 start to the season ahead of their Sunday night tip-off against the Raptors. “It came down to turnovers — just silly ones we shouldn’t have thrown,” Flagg said of the team’s 117-110 loss to the Wizards. “We’ve got to take care of the ball because that led to a lot of transition opportunities for them.” Flagg has been operating as the Mavs’ primary ball-handler through the first three games, and has had some positive moments while still working on learning the intricacies of running an offense, writes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. Flagg became the second player under 19 to have a game with at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists, Afseth notes, with the other being LeBron James.
- It took just two games for Mavericks fans to regain their frustration with team leadership, writes Marc Stein of the Stein Line (subscriber link). Stein writes that “Fire Nico” chants, referencing general manager Nico Harrison, were audible in both of the team’s two losses to start the season, the first one coming at the hands of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, and the second against the Wizards. Harrison remains confident in his position with the team, which Stein notes is bolstered by the support of owner Patrick Dumont, partially because Dumont was the person who signed off on Harrison’s trade of Luka Doncic.
Gafford Doubtful, Williams Out For Sunday
- The Mavericks had hoped Daniel Gafford could return from his right ankle sprain on Friday, but now he’s been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s game, relays Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Brandon Williams will miss the game for personal reasons, Curtis adds (Twitter link).