‘Hobbling A Little Bit’: Dusty May Says Max Christie Will Be Reevaluated After Right Hip Injury
DALLAS — Max Christie left the Dallas Mavericks’ 115-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday night with a right hip injury, and Mavericks coach Dusty May said the guard will be reevaluated over the next couple of days.
Christie started and played 7 minutes, 40 seconds, all before halftime. He went to the floor after a turnover midway through the second quarter and checked out with 6:59 left in the period. Early in the second half, the team announced he would not return.
He finished without a point on 0-of-5 shooting, every attempt a 3-pointer, and added 2 rebounds and a steal.
May did not see the play itself.
“I just saw that he was hobbling a little bit,” May said. “They just said we’ll evaluate him tomorrow. Typically, the night of, it’s tough to have a clear evaluation, but we’ll reevaluate in the next couple days.”
Walter Clayton Jr. Replaces Max Christie In Second-Half Lineup
Walter Clayton Jr. took Christie’s place at the 6:59 mark and opened the third quarter with Cooper Flagg, Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin, and P.J. Washington. He finished with a career-high-tying 20 points off the bench.
Dallas was already without Kyrie Irving, who sat with left knee injury management, and Sergio De Larrea, who has a right knee sprain.
Martin made his first start of the season and had 5 points and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes. May does not believe the lineup combinations decided the game.
“I thought Caleb did a good job defensively. He made a shot. I don’t think the lineup combinations, offhand, are the reason that they won tonight,” May explained. “I mean, we didn’t, we didn’t do much well across the board, coaching, playing, in any way. So we just felt like he had a really good game last outing, and his defense has been really, really sound for us.”
Christie Entered Monday Shooting 31.3% From Three
Christie has started all seven games this season. Before Monday, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 26.3 minutes, shooting 36.7% from the field and 31.3% from three on 5.3 attempts per game.
Ups and downs come with any season, May said.
“He’s put in a lot of work. He deserves to have success. He had a great summer, and there’s ebbs and flows and ups and downs in any season,” May said. “We always just kind of stress that water is going to find its level and just keep moving forward, whether things are going well or whether things are going poorly.”
“Just keep preparing the right way and keep believing and having faith, and your time will come,” May continued. “So, just, 82-game season, we’re confident that water is going to find its level on our shooters.”
The Mavericks visit the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
