{"id":457849,"date":"2026-02-14T14:04:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T14:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/457849\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T14:04:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T14:04:27","slug":"naji-marshall-caleb-martin-status-in-focus-after-dallas-mavericks-shootaround-ahead-of-los-angeles-lakers-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/457849\/","title":{"rendered":"Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin Status In Focus After Dallas Mavericks Shootaround Ahead Of Los Angeles Lakers Clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Dallas Mavericks<\/a> enter their final game before the All-Star break, managing multiple injury questions across the rotation. Naji Marshall is listed as questionable with a left foot strain and did not participate in shootaround ahead of Thursday\u2019s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Marshall has averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 52 games this season.<\/p>\n

Caleb Martin is also questionable with a left ankle sprain, but did take part in shootaround. His availability could carry added importance with Dallas already without Cooper Flagg, who remains sidelined with a left midfoot sprain.<\/p>\n

Flagg leads the Mavericks with 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He will also miss Friday\u2019s Rising Stars event.<\/p>\n

Two-way players Moussa Ciss\u00e9, Ryan Nembhard and Miles Kelly are doubtful.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext Man Up\u201d Without Cooper Flagg<\/p>\n

Forward P.J. Washington said the mindset heading into the final game before the break is simple.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, come out here, play hard, play a good brand of basketball,\u201d Washington said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been losing a couple games, so trying to get back on track. Just came out regular.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without Flagg\u2019s production, Washington emphasized a collective approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext man up mentality,\u201d Washington said. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the better players in this league, even though he\u2019s so young. So just trying to fill his shoes. It\u2019s gonna take a bunch of us, so just come out, play together, move the ball, and just try to make the right play every time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Washington acknowledged the disappointment of Flagg missing the Rising Stars showcase.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I mean, it\u2019s tough,\u201d Washington said. \u201cInjuries are a part of it, but we just want him to be back healthy and whatever that is, we\u2019ll be fine with it. Just want him to experience everything he\u2019s gonna experience. So he\u2019s gonna have a great career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Supporting New Dallas Mavericks Faces <\/p>\n

With recent roster changes, Washington said part of his role is helping new teammates adjust.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s good,\u201d Washington said. \u201cWe got some new faces, so just trying to incorporate them, trying to help them a little bit better, learn our needs and rotation. So just trying. I just want them to be able to know that I\u2019m a guy that\u2019s here to help. Anything they may need, whether it\u2019s praise, anything, whatever to them. It\u2019s a new city, so they don\u2019t really know much about it. So I\u2019m from here.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Dallas evaluates its wing rotation with Marshall and Martin uncertain, Washington praised Max Christie\u2019s continued development.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext man up mentality,\u201d Washington said. \u201cI mean, obviously, he\u2019s been good. Confidence when he shoots the ball \u2014 one of the best shooters. Been putting in work offseason, during season as well. It\u2019s gonna be something special.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about Christie not being selected for the three-point contest despite his numbers, Washington was direct.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s insane,\u201d Washington said. \u201cBut he\u2019s one of the best in the league, so it is what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preparing for the Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n

The Mavericks (19-34) will face a Lakers team without Luka Don\u010di\u0107, who remains sidelined with a strained left hamstring. Washington noted how his presence typically alters defensive priorities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be different,\u201d Washington said. \u201cObviously, they\u2019re gonna play different. So I mean, Luka brings so much gravity. They have great players in Austin Reaves and LeBron as well. So the main focus will be on them and just trying to slow them down and obviously just do the things we need to do to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. EST at Crypto.com Arena as Dallas looks to close the pre-break stretch with momentum.<\/p>\n

Latest Dallas Mavericks News & Trade Rumors<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Dallas Mavericks enter their final game before the All-Star break, managing multiple injury questions across the rotation.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":457850,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5117],"tags":[30294,7645,196,5047,147,5278,5,12888,55576,12678,2068,21276,555,21101,4,197],"class_list":{"0":"post-457849","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas-stars","8":"tag-caleb-martin","9":"tag-cooper-flagg","10":"tag-dallas","11":"tag-dallas-mavericks","12":"tag-dallas-stars","13":"tag-dallasstars","14":"tag-hockey","15":"tag-jason-kidd","16":"tag-khris-middleton","17":"tag-klay-thompson","18":"tag-los-angeles-lakers","19":"tag-naji-marshall","20":"tag-nba","21":"tag-nba-news","22":"tag-nhl","23":"tag-stars"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116069365436404982","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=457849"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457849\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/457850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=457849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=457849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=457849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}