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DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks downgraded rookie Morez Johnson Jr. from questionable to out for Monday’s game against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center with a left shin/tibia contusion. Johnson will miss a regular-season game for the first time in his career after playing in all 10 of Dallas’ games.
Dallas added Johnson to its injury report Monday, the second night of a home back-to-back. He was not listed for Sunday’s 130-93 win over the Brooklyn Nets, when he came off the bench for 4 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist in 19 minutes, 9 seconds.
Tarik Biberović (right heel bursitis), Sergio De Larrea (right knee sprain), and Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) are also out. Kyrie Irving and Santi Aldama are off the report, and Caleb Martin is available with a right thumb splint.
Morez Johnson Jr. To Miss First Game Of Rookie Season
Johnson’s lower legs have kept him on and off the report since training camp, when Mavericks coach Dusty May said soreness was limiting him. After starting at center in his NBA debut in Macao, Johnson sat out the next two preseason games with right shin splints. He was also listed as questionable with a shin injury before the Oct. 24 game against the San Antonio Spurs and played that night.
Over his last two games, Johnson pulled down 26 rebounds. On Friday against the Utah Jazz, he played more than 18 minutes for the first time this season and finished with 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. He entered Sunday averaging 8.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.8 minutes off the bench.
Dallas drafted Johnson ninth overall in June, a day after hiring May, who had coached him to a national championship at Michigan. After Sunday’s game, Johnson said the NBA requires him to be very intentional.
“Physically, fast pace,” Johnson said. “[Got to] be very intentional. You don’t get days where you like get like a full practice in. You just got to be very locked in mentally.”
Daniel Gafford has started all 10 games at center. Aldama, who checked in with Johnson midway through the first quarter Sunday, scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 15 minutes.
Every available Maverick played Sunday, and Dallas’ bench outscored Brooklyn’s 58-31. Afterward, May singled out Aldama, Walter Clayton Jr., Naji Marshall, and Zaccharie Risacher for getting it going late.
“So, as we know, with back-to-backs in these games, these road trips, we need as many live bodies as possible,” May said. “And then we just got to go with whoever has it going that particular night, and figure out a way to win each and every game.”
Indiana Pacers Arrive Without Tyrese Haliburton
Indiana (3-7) lost 114-102 to the Denver Nuggets in Mexico City on Saturday. The Pacers ruled out Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain), Johnny Furphy (right ACL repair surgery), and Ben Sheppard (left meniscus surgery), and they listed T.J. McConnell as questionable with a right hamstring strain.
Johnson played 17 minutes in the first meeting, a 121-105 Dallas win in Indianapolis on Oct. 23. A 22-6 first-quarter run put the Mavericks up 44-27 after one, and Irving finished with 24 points.
KFAA and MavsTV carry Monday’s 7 p.m. CT tip-off. Dallas visits the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, then plays a weekend back-to-back at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday and the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
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