Morez Johnson Jr. became the fourth Maverick added to the injury report this week, joining Lively, Aldama and Irving as camp continues with no games played. Dallas opens its preseason October 9 at home against Houston, three weeks before the October 21 regular-season opener at the same Rockets.
Four Out, One Is New
Johnson, a rookie forward, entered the injury report with an undisclosed issue and a target of October 9. Aldama's listing updated the same day, still marked only 'undisclosed, other' with a target of October 1. Lively remains short of clearance for a right foot problem, targeting October 9, and Irving is working back from a left knee issue on the same timeline.
New Ink From Stein And Afseth
Marc Stein linked Irving to trade buzz alongside Powell, Kessler and Duren in a report dated September 28 — that's Stein's framing, not a Dallas confirmation. Grant Afseth's notes the same day grouped Aldama, Daniel Gafford, Johnson, Max Christie and head coach Dusty May, without detail beyond the headline itself. Both are reports on what's being discussed, not moves the Mavericks have made.
Camp Turns Into Games
Dallas opens preseason October 9 at home against Houston, then plays at Houston October 11, hosts New Orleans October 14 and Atlanta October 16, before the October 21 regular-season opener at the Rockets. Last season's top five-man unit by minutes — Washington, Gafford, Christie and Flagg alongside a fifth starter — posted a +2.2 net rating over 73 minutes, built on a 116.8 offense and 114.6 defense. Whether May leans on that look again, or waits on Lively and Irving to round into shape, is the first real evidence camp will produce.
When do the Mavericks play their first preseason game?
October 9 at home against Houston, the first of four exhibitions before the October 21 regular-season opener, also against the Rockets.
Who is injured for the Mavericks right now?
Four players are sidelined entering camp — Irving, Lively, Aldama and rookie Morez Johnson Jr. — with targets ranging from October 1 to October 9.
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