DALLAS — Moussa Cissé tweaked his left ankle in the first half of the Dallas Mavericks’ preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday and will sit the second half, the team announced. The injury is not considered serious.
Cissé started at center at American Airlines Center. Mavericks coach Dusty May opened with Naji Marshall and Max Christie at guard, with Zaccharie Risacher and P.J. Washington Jr. at forward.
Before the injury, Cissé had 8 points on 3-of-6 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist in 16 minutes. He made both of his free throws, and four of his rebounds came on the offensive glass. He also had 3 blocks and 1 steal.
Moussa Cissé Exits With Dallas Mavericks Already Short At Center
Dallas entered the night with eight players ruled out. Daniel Gafford is out with a right shoulder stinger, and Dereck Lively II has not played since Nov. 21, 2025, after two surgeries on his right foot. Morez Johnson Jr., who started at center in the preseason opener in Macao, is out with right shin splints.
The Mavericks listed Cissé, Gafford, Lively, and Dwight Powell at center on their training camp roster, which leaves Powell as the only one available for the second half. Powell signed with Dallas on Sept. 25. He had 8 assists in 13 minutes in Friday’s 135-117 loss to the Houston Rockets and finished plus-14 in 14:58 of Sunday’s 132-115 win.
Dallas is also resting Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg. Marcus Sasser (left adductor tightness), Santi Aldama (right knee surgery), and Jett Howard (stomach virus) are also out.
Cissé’s Path To The Mavericks Roster
Cissé went undrafted in 2025 and joined Dallas on a two-way contract. As a rookie, he averaged 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 13.9 minutes across 38 games with the Mavericks.
He also played 15 games for the Texas Legends, averaging 14.7 points and 13.1 rebounds. In July, Dallas kept him by matching a two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet from the New York Knicks.
In Sunday’s win in Macao, Cissé played 7 minutes, all in the fourth quarter. Dallas closes the preseason Friday against the Atlanta Hawks at 7 p.m. CT and opens the regular season Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT in Houston.
