The Dallas Mavericks are finally back on home turf, ready to host the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at the American Airlines Center for their first preseason game in the US. But if you were hoping to catch some of the big names, get ready for a serious bummer. Looks like a bunch of the guys we’re all fired up to see won’t even be hitting the floor.
First Game Back Stateside Hits Different, But Maybe Not How We Hoped
This isn’t just any preseason game, y’all. This is the Mavs’ big return to the AAC after they trekked all the way to Macao to play the Houston Rockets twice last week. The Pelicans have also been getting their tune-up on, facing off against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat. It’s all about getting ready for the regular season, right?
We’ve also got new home game start times for non-national TV broadcasts, so we can all get to bed a little earlier if we’re in the Western Hemisphere. Tonight’s tip-off is 7:00 pm CST. You can catch it on NBAtv or KFAA if you’re local. The whole preseason is about seeing what you have and staying healthy, not racking up wins or losses. But man, it’s tough when the “seeing what you have” part is missing some key pieces.
Seriously, The Injury Report Is Just Brutal Tonight
Alright, buckle up, because this is where the excitement takes a nose dive. There’s no official injury report out yet, but the intel is pretty clear: Dereck Lively is out, still recovering from surgery that ended his season last year. Santi Aldama probably won’t play either, even though he’s been practicing after his offseason knee procedure. And Marcus Sasser? Forget about it, he’s dealing with an abductor injury.
Then, the real gut punch hit. Coach Dusty May confirmed it: Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, and Daniel Gafford, who has a right shoulder stinger, are all resting tonight. And to top it off, Morez Johnson Jr. is also sidelined with right shin splints. What are we even watching tonight, a G League showcase? Mike Curtis’s update perfectly summed it up: “UPDATE: EVERYONE I WANT TO WATCH ISN’T PLAYING. COOL COOL COOL” Yeah, cool cool cool, indeed. Talk about a buzzkill for the first home game!
Coach May’s Offense Needs Some Spotlight, Even With The Missing Pieces
So, with all those big names chilling on the bench, what are we supposed to watch? The coaching staff has been absolutely raving about head coach Dusty May’s offensive mind this preseason. This is our chance to really zero in on the two and three-man actions happening on offense. Who’s working well together? Who’s showing some chemistry despite the shuffled lineups? That’s gotta be the focus, because wins and losses don’t matter right now, but finding those early connections does. Hopefully, we see some exciting new schemes even if the usual suspects aren’t executing them.
It’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re hyped for the first home game and the lineup gets gutted. But hey, it’s preseason. The goal is to get ready for the real deal. So let’s keep an eye on May’s offensive creativity and see what unexpected player combos emerge tonight. It’s all about building for what’s ahead, even if we’re doing it with a seriously depleted roster tonight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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