Kyrie Irving Misses Shootaround, Listed Probable With Illness For Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks went through shootaround Friday morning without Kyrie Irving, who is listed as probable with an illness for Friday night’s NBA Cup game against the Utah Jazz. Irving missed a contested 15-foot turnaround jumper with three seconds left in Wednesday’s 112-111 loss at the San Antonio Spurs.
He finished that game with 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9-of-27 shooting in nearly 36 minutes. His season averages are 22.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in six games, with 47.5% shooting from the field and 38.2% from three-point range.
The Sacramento Kings were 0-6 when they visited American Airlines Center on Nov. 2, and they beat the Mavericks 115-100. Irving did not play that night because of left knee injury management, according to the team’s injury report.
Last week, Naji Marshall missed games on Oct. 26 and Oct. 28 with an illness. He also did not play Oct. 30 before returning to the lineup Nov. 2. In San Antonio on Wednesday, Marshall came off the bench to score 22 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 9-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-3 from three-point range.
Santi Aldama Probable For Dallas Mavericks Debut
Santi Aldama is probable and in line to make his Mavericks debut after missing the preseason and the team’s first eight games. Aldama had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on March 17 while with the Memphis Grizzlies. Dallas acquired him this offseason.
On Oct. 27, the Mavericks assigned Aldama to the Texas Legends, their G League affiliate, and recalled him the same day. Before the Oct. 30 game against the Houston Rockets, Mavericks coach Dusty May said Aldama was very close to playing. Aldama was listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game in San Antonio and did not play.
Max Christie is also probable, listed with right hip soreness and tightness. He played 7:40 against Sacramento on Nov. 2, all of it in the first half, and sat out Wednesday’s game. Christie has started all seven games he has played this season, averaging 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
Caleb Martin is available while wearing a splint on his right thumb. He logged 19:36 off the bench Wednesday after starting against the Kings two nights earlier.
Three Mavericks are out. Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) and Tarik Biberovic (right heel bursitis) have yet to play this season. Biberovic signed a multi-year contract with Dallas on July 10. Sergio De Larrea is out with a right knee sprain. In four appearances, De Larrea averaged 5.3 points in 11.5 minutes.
Utah Jazz Arrive On Seven-Game Losing Streak
Utah is 1-7 and has lost seven straight since beating the New Orleans Pelicans 120-119 on Oct. 23. The Jazz lost 120-113 in New Orleans on Wednesday.
Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Jusuf Nurkić (foot) are out for the Jazz. Jackson has averaged 16.3 points in four games this season. Keyonte George leads Utah with 22.0 points per game, along with 4.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Irving and Cooper Flagg combined for 68 points when Dallas opened NBA Cup play by beating Houston 116-111 on Oct. 30. The Mavericks then lost to Sacramento and San Antonio and are 4-4. Flagg had 17 points against the Kings and 19 against the Spurs, below his team-high average of 24.3.
Tip-off against Utah is at 7 p.m. CT. The Mavericks host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
