Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks are just hours away from taking on the Golden State Warriors for their NBA Christmas Day matchup. Given that neither team started the season exceptionally well, they will be eager to put on a show and add a win to their records.
Although the Warriors are dealing with their own issues, the Mavericks started the season terribly. Since injuries to stars on their team have hampered their success to start the season, let us find out how healthy the Mavericks are for this game.
Klay Thompson Will Not Be Fully Healthy for the Warriors vs. Mavericks Christmas Special
Despite Thompson leaving the Warriors over contract negotiations, it was an awkward situation for both sides, who were unwilling to reach a middle ground. However, there is no denying that Thompson is deeply loved and cherished by the fanbase.
Thompson’s exit is truly saddening from one perspective. After all, many had assumed that the Mavericks, who were coming off a trip to the NBA Finals, would find a way to bring Thompson over. That would greatly aid the organization’s pursuit of an NBA championship.
Neither Thompson nor most of the Mavericks’ members knew what the future had in store for them. After trading away Luka Dončić under the belief that they would win a title, the Mavericks have now found themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference. It has now been a slow uphill fight. At 12-19, Thompson and the entire squad will have to do their best to improve this record.
Thompson has dealt with a fair amount of serious injuries over the past few years. As a result, his consistency on the court began to become an issue. While fans would expect Thompson to do his best to play in this game, the injury reports reveal that he is dealing with left knee soreness and is listed as probable.
This is not the best-case scenario for the Mavericks. In fact, an argument could be made that injuries to key stars on the roster, such as Kyrie Irving, have hindered the team. The other players on the Mavericks’ lengthy injury report are Brandon Williams and Max Christie, who are listed as probable, as well as Moussa Cisse.
Finally, Irving, Dante Exum, and Dereck Lively II will likely be sidelined and have no chance of playing, significantly reducing their team’s chances of victory.
A ray of hope for the Mavericks is the fact that Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg are not mentioned in the injury report. Since a healthy Davis managed to prove himself as a top player in the league, it is safe to say that the Mavericks have a good chance to steal a win.
