By our count, injuries have cost Dallas 888 minutes since opening night, the fourth-highest total of 30 teams. The Mavericks still own a three-game winning streak, and four absences could end on Monday against the Kings.
The Missing Rotation Minutes
The 888 is a running total, and the pain is concentrated. Aldama averaged 27.9 minutes, Lively 16.5 and de Larrea 11.6 before going out. Together that is 56 minutes a night gone, and Biberovic is still out on top of it. Dallas's worst single day reached 120 minutes out. Across the league, 1,359 minutes are missing today, so the Mavericks carry a heavy share of the load. Only three clubs have lost more since opening night.
A 4-2 Start Despite It
The record held up because the stars stayed on the floor. Dallas is 4-2 over six games with a plus-2.9 net rating, 114.1 on offense and 111.3 on defense. Irving scored 35 and Flagg 33 in the 116-111 win over Houston. Flagg is averaging 26.8 points over five games, and Washington leads the club at 33.5 minutes. Cisse's minutes have also climbed to 26.0 a night over the last five games. Six games is a small sample, but the depth has been tested and has not cracked yet.
What Day-to-Day Really Means
The listings deserve less trust than the label suggests. Of eight Dallas players newly listed day-to-day since October 20, four missed the next game. League-wide the rate is 58%, 65 of 112 players, rest days included. Eight is a thin sample, yet it matches the league: a coin flip. Aldama, Lively and Biberovic carry estimated returns of November 2, the day of the Kings game, and de Larrea November 4 at San Antonio. Estimates have been moving all month. Sacramento is 0-6 with a minus-17.8 net rating, so Dallas can afford caution. Watch whether the first three are active or still on the injury report, because the Spurs come two nights later, then Utah.
How many minutes have the Mavericks lost to injury this season?
By our count, 888 minutes since opening night, fourth-most among the 30 teams. Four players are out today, costing 56 minutes a night.
Do Mavericks players listed day-to-day usually play?
Only about half of them have. Four of eight Dallas players newly listed day-to-day missed the next game, against 58% across the league.
