Dante Exum upgraded to questionable for return vs. Lakers

Jaden Hardy’s night came to a premature end late in the fourth quarter when he stepped on the foot of Cam Christie and suffered an apparent right ankle sprain. Hardy immediately recognized he couldn’t finish the game and tried to scoot away from the court. He was eventually escorted to the locker room with 2:13 left. If Hardy’s injury is indeed deemed a sprain, it’ll be his fourth of the regular season to the same ankle. The Mavericks are already without point guards Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum and Brandon Williams. Hardy’s exit could place his status in jeopardy for Saturday’s game against the Clippers. -via Dallas Morning News / April 5, 2025

What have your conversations with Kyrie been like since he suffered his season-ending ACL tear? Anthony Davis: In basketball, man, s— happens. [It’s] Kind of been going around the league, not even just the league but in sports in general, freakish injuries. I saw [Irving’s] play. Once he stepped in, he went down for a split second. The first thing I thought was, ‘Please, don’t let it be his ACL.’ And I went to go check on him, and he said it right then and there. I was like, ‘[expletive] .’ I could just tell how it was. We went from that to Gaff [Gafford] with his knee, Ex [Exum] with his hand, and O-Max [Prosper] with his hand. Then you had be Will [Brandon Williams] with his hammy and D-Live [Lively] already had his foot, J-Hardy [Jaden Hardy] with his ankle. Like f— man, we can’t catch the break, Caleb [Martin], with everything he got going on. PJ’s [Washington’s] ankle. But credit to these guys who around the clock getting treatment and doing everything we can to get back on the floor to make this push. But in [Irving’s] instance, during that time, I let him have time to himself, his team, and everything. And then obviously, I was in the back with him, gave him some space, and then once he did everything he needed to do, he came back to the locker room where I was at. And his whole mood was just different as far as he was like, ‘Hey listen, ain’t nothing I can do about it.’ His mindset went from ‘f—’ to let’s get ready to start this rehab process and get back. So that’s the opposite, tough injury, but I know he’s had some pretty significant injuries, the kneecap and everything, and he came back the same Kai. So, it’s my job to hold the fort down the rest of the season and then go into next season with some of the offseason things that we’re pretty sure we’re going to do. Then, have him have his time to get back healthy, get back right, come in, and be Kyrie again. -via Andscape / March 28, 2025

Dallas Mavericks PR: Mavs Injury Update at BKN (1/2): Anthony Davis (left adductor strain) – AVAILABLE Brandon Williams (low back tightness) – AVAILABLE Caleb Martin (right hip strain) – OUT Dante Exum (left hand fracture) – OUT Kyrie Irving (left knee sprain / ACL Tear) – OUT -via Twitter @MavsPR / March 24, 2025