Fort Worth Star Telegram Logo

Injury-plagued Dallas Mavericks short on players, score | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters

    • Local
    • Fort Worth
    • Arlington
    • Northeast Tarrant
    • Texas
    • Crime & Courts
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Databases
    • Nation and World
    • Cowboys
    • Rangers
    • TCU
    • Mac Engel
    • Colleges
    • Mavericks
    • Motorsports
    • Stars
    • High School Sports
    • Scores & Schedules
    • All Sports
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Boys Basketball
    • Girls Basketball
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Submit a letter
    • Cheers and Jeers
    • Submit a Cheer or Jeer
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Michael Ryan
    • Cynthia M. Allen
    • Other Voices
    • Business
    • Growth
    • Restaurants
    • Arts & Culture
    • Movies
    • Things To Do
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Party Pics
    • Horoscopes
    • Comics
    • Contests
    • Puzzles and Games
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts
    • Health & Fitness
    • Indulge
    • The Keller Magazine
    • Neil Sperry
    • Social Eyes
    • Dear Abby
    • Weddings
    • Arlington Citizen-Journal
    • Keller Citizen
    • Star-Telegram Northeast
    • Mansfield News-Mirror
    • Weatherford Star-Telegram
    • La Estrella
    • Locales
    • Noticias
    • Deportes
    • Entretenimiento
    • Contáctenos
    • Media Kit
    • Today's Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary

    • All Weddings
    • Announcements
    • Bridal Show
    • Contact Us
    • Inspiration
    • News & Advice
    • Vendors
    • Hispanic Heritage
    • Cancer Awareness
    • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Dining, Entertaining
    • Breast Cancer Awareness
    • Think Green
    • Money Matters
    • All About Pets
    • Careers and Business
    • Health and Wellness
    • How To...
    • Women Today
    • Family and Parenting
    • Easy Living Tips
    • Lawn and Garden
    • Giving Back
    • Men Today
    • On the Road 1
    • On the Road 2
  • Public Notices
  • Local Deals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Mobile & Apps

Sports

Injury-plagued Dallas Mavericks short on players, score

By Dwain Price - dprice@star-telegram.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

October 24, 2012 11:34 PM

WICHITA, Kan. -- Already without their two tallest players, the Dallas Mavericks got even shorter Wednesday night when 6-foot-10 center Brandan Wright sprained his left ankle during an 88-76 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Mavs were already trying to battle the defending Western Conference champions without 7-footers Dirk Nowitzki (knee) and Chris Kaman (calf). Shawn Marion and Vince Carter also didn't make the trip to INTRUST Bank Arena.

Thus, it was a tall order for the Mavs to overcome the Thunder, picked by many to win the NBA title. Wright's injury late in the third quarter with the Mavs down 61-53 didn't help.

"I just rolled it," said Wright, who finished with 11 points and five rebounds. "I think it'll be good, but I can't call it right now."

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

For the most part, the Mavs stayed within striking distance of an OKC squad that was 9-1 against Dallas last season, including a four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs. Most of the Mavs' damage came thanks to rookie Jae Crowder, who had a game-high 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in 34 minutes.

"We were missing a few [players] today," Crowder said. "But there were still a lot of other guys here [who are] helping me out each and every day, so it's building my confidence."

Coach Rick Carlisle said he was more or less forced to run up Crowder's minutes.

"We just didn't have enough guys to get him out of the game," Carlisle said. "I like the way he plays and I like the way he played tonight.

"He does a lot of good things on the court. He's going to be a guy that's going to be an important guy for us."

Kevin Durant (18 points, seven rebounds), James Harden (16 points) and Serge Ibaka (15 points, seven rebounds) led the Thunder.

Despite falling to 3-4 in the preseason, the Mavs outscored OKC in fast-break points 23-14. But they lost the rebounding battle 51-40, although Dallas closed the gap after being outrebounded 30-14 in the opening half.

"Part of that was because Wright was out there to start the half, and that helped having more length," Carlisle said. "That's going to be an ongoing challenge for us and we've got to deal with it."

The Mavs, who shot 37.3 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers, left Wichita knowing they have to deal with another injury to an interior player.

"Obviously it'll be sore," said Wright, who earlier in training camp had a strained left quadriceps. "But I'll take it a day at a time."

Thunder impressive

Rick Carlisle knows a well-oiled machine when he sees it. And in the Thunder, he sees a team operating on all cylinders.

"There's a group of teams -- there's three or four of them that are really up there -- and this is one of the teams that's really up there," Carlisle said. "Not only do they have a high ability level in size and strength. But they've played together for many years, they're passing the ball better than they ever have, and those kinds of things make them one of the favorites out of the West."

Dwain Price, 817-390-7760

Twitter: @DwainPrice

Related stories from Fort Worth Star Telegram

sports

Dirk Nowitzki's return: 'It's hard to say right now'

October 23, 2012 11:37 PM

HOMEPAGE

Get updates in the Mavericks blog

February 23, 2011 06:14 PM

HOMEPAGE

Follow Dwain Price on Twitter

March 03, 2011 06:53 PM

  Comments  

Videos

What does Luka Doncic think of being a last-minute All-Star replacement?

Watch Dirk and Luka receive big ovations before Rising Stars game

View More Video

Trending Stories

Jury finds 14-year-old Fort Worth girl guilty of killing her best friend

February 14, 2019 04:10 PM

Video shows alligator killing dog in Trinity River; authorities investigate

February 15, 2019 04:53 PM

And here it comes: Fans are irate at Rangers’ ticket pricing plans for new ballpark

February 14, 2019 07:00 AM

Worried Texas Republicans call for more national help in 2020

February 14, 2019 04:00 AM

Granbury High instructor was intoxicated in fatal Parker County crash, report says

February 14, 2019 02:30 PM

Read Next

How rookie Luka Doncic could end up an NBA All-Star after all

Dallas Mavericks

How rookie Luka Doncic could end up an NBA All-Star after all

By Stefan Stevenson

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 15, 2019 03:33 PM

Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic received the third-most fan votes but was left off the All-Star roster. If the Pelican’s Anthony Davis can’t play because of injury, the NBA could add Doncic as a replacement.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE SPORTS

Luka Doncic happy to take backseat in Rising Stars game

Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic happy to take backseat in Rising Stars game

February 15, 2019 10:49 PM
Aledo girls advance while Kennedale boys defeat Dunbar in instant classic

Girls Basketball

Aledo girls advance while Kennedale boys defeat Dunbar in instant classic

February 15, 2019 10:37 PM
High school boys basketball playoff pairings

Boys Basketball

High school boys basketball playoff pairings

February 15, 2019 10:28 PM
What has Miller feeling like ‘normal baseball player’ again early in Rangers camp?

Texas Rangers

What has Miller feeling like ‘normal baseball player’ again early in Rangers camp?

February 15, 2019 06:46 PM
Rangers’ minds not closed to The Opener, but under what circumstances will they use it?

Texas Rangers

Rangers’ minds not closed to The Opener, but under what circumstances will they use it?

February 15, 2019 05:44 PM
Most Interesting Man in Rangers camp? It may be a former banker, Mariano Rivera’s buddy

Texas Rangers

Most Interesting Man in Rangers camp? It may be a former banker, Mariano Rivera’s buddy

February 15, 2019 07:27 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story