DHJ Quick Take: Survival Mode in Phoenix

The Injury Crisis: What was already a thin roster has reached a breaking point. Dallas has officially ruled out Klay Thompson (rest), Naji Marshall (hip), Daniel Gafford (shoulder), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Caleb Martin (foot), P.J. Washington (elbow), and Brandon Williams (illness). This marks the 42nd different starting lineup for Jason Kidd in 80 games.

Cissé’s Big Moment: With Lively and Gafford sidelined, Moussa Cissé becomes the primary interior option. Kidd praised the rookie’s aggression following Tuesday’s loss, noting that Cissé—who is averaging 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in limited minutes—will be tasked with defending Dillon Brooks and anchoring the paint at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Flagg’s Heavy Lift: Cooper Flagg (wrist) is probable and will essentially be the Mavericks‘ entire offensive engine. Coming off two 40-point games earlier this week, Flagg must navigate a physical Suns defense led by Devin Booker and Bradley Beal with almost no veteran support on the floor.

PHOENIX — The Dallas Mavericks are as shorthanded as they have been all season. On Wednesday night against the Phoenix Suns, whoever is available will need to step up.

Klay Thompson (rest), Naji Marshall (left hip contusion), Daniel Gafford (right shoulder impingement), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Caleb Martin (right plantar fascia strain), P.J. Washington (left elbow soreness), and Brandon Williams (illness) are all out on Wednesday.

Dallas Mavericks Embrace ‘Next-Man-Up’

The length of the injury report was not a surprise. Following Tuesday’s 116-103 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Kidd made clear the roster picture heading into Phoenix would be complicated.

“First, it’s understanding who’s going to be available,” Kidd said Tuesday. “It’s a next-man-up mentality because it doesn’t look like we’ll have everyone. There will be plenty of minutes for others. Once we know who’s available, we’ll make the game plan and go from there.”

Marshall’s absence was the most notable addition to the list. He exited Tuesday’s game in the fourth quarter with the hip contusion, and while head coach Jason Kidd had not ruled him out immediately after the loss, he acknowledged the quick turnaround as a legitimate concern.

“He left the game with a hip contusion,” Kidd said Tuesday. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. It’s a quick turnaround — not ruling him out right now, but we’ll see how he feels.”

Who Else Steps Up?

A player who hasn’t been in the rotation lately, like Moussa Cissé, will be asked to do more. However, so will talents like Max Christie, who posted 12 points on 10-of-10 from the free throw line Tuesday against the Clippers, and Kidd pointed to his aggression as something he expects to carry over Wednesday night.

“Max Christie is aggressive,” Kidd said. “He had some good looks that just did a great job for him. He continued to attack.”

Christie figures to carry an expanded offensive burden alongside Cooper Flagg with so many regulars unavailable. Two-way players John Poulakidas and Tyler Smith are also available and could see additional minutes depending on how the game unfolds.

For Cissé, Wednesday represents the kind of opportunity that does not come around often on a roster this deep with veterans. The Mavericks have used 41 different starting lineups in 79 games this season — a byproduct of an injury situation that has rarely allowed the same group to take the floor consecutively. The Suns, by contrast, have used just 24. That disparity in continuity has been one of the defining storylines of Dallas’s season, and it will be on full display Wednesday night in Phoenix.

Wednesday’s game tips off at 9 p.m. CT at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.