The Mavericks fell 114-115 at home to the Timberwolves, somehow forcing a down-to-the-wire finish with a makeshift roster. But Dallas can’t catch a break. Before tip-off, devastating news broke: center Dereck Lively II suffered a right ankle stress fracture, set for re-evaluation in four weeks and expected to miss two to three months. Lively, the Mavs’ defensive anchor inside, was averaging 9.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks—his absence shatters half of Dallas’ interior.

Lively is just the latest addition to Dallas’ lengthy injury list. For the Timberwolves game, six other players were sidelined:

• Luka Doncic: Still out with a calf strain suffered on Christmas Day, unlikely to return until after the All-Star break. His missed games rule him out of MVP and All-NBA contention.
• Klay Thompson: Sidelined by a left ankle sprain. He’s played 38 games (4th on the team, 1st among starters) but missed 6.
• Exum: Missed all season after right wrist surgery; the former rotation piece (55 games, 7.8 PPG last season) has no return timeline.
• Hardy: Ankle sprain (his second this season), sidelined for 10 of 34 games.
• Dwight Powell: Out with a left hip injury.
• Marshall: Sidelined by an illness.

Even active players aren’t healthy. Kyrie Irving logged 38 minutes, dropping 36 points (12-of-21 shooting), but he missed time in early January with a herniated disc. Guard Grimes, initially doubtful with back spasms, started and played 36 minutes—Dallas had no other options.

Dallas’ injury crisis mirrors a worrying trend: recent NBA runners-up often stumble the next season.

• 2021 Suns: Lost in WCSF.
• 2022 Celtics: Survived two seven-game series before falling in ECF to Heat.
• 2023 Heat: Injuries derailed them, swept in first round by Celtics.

Like last year’s Heat, Dallas is crippled by star injuries cascading through the rotation. Miami’s most available starter last season? Bam Adebayo (71 games); Jimmy Butler played 60, Tyler Herro missed 40.

Why the injury surge? Tighter scheduling. The in-season tournament (NBA Cup)，packing more games in short windows while forcing teams to treat regular-season tourney games as must-wins. Teams reaching the Finals—whose stars often play in the Olympics—can’t recover before a grueling new season. Boston faces similar issues, but deeper rosters mask the problem.

At today’s presser, coach Jason Kidd flipped the script on fired-up Dallas reporters: “Be patient—let me explain.”

Patience is Dallas’ last hope. At 23-21 (7th in the West), they’re not dead yet. They need to weather this storm until Doncic returns, then gradually get others back.

Life has its ups and downs. Even the unluckiest streaks eventually end.