Latest Daniel Gafford News
After last year's false start, Doncic-Irving duo in prime form to Mavericks move to Finals
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving just needed some time together for the Dallas Mavericks to thrive around this formed-not-so-long-ago All-Star pairing. Patience can indeed pay off in this internet-fueled age of instant expectation. After a false start...
Doncic's 36 points spur Mavericks to NBA Finals with 124-103 toppling of Timberwolves in Game 5
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic was in his element, hitting shots from everywhere on the court, hushing the crowd and flashing those sly smiles as the Dallas Mavericks delivered a knockout performance. Now one of the global sport's young superstars gets his first trip to the NBA...
Mavericks get Lively back for Game 5 vs. Timberwolves after missing last game with neck sprain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks backup center Dereck Lively II was suited up for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in Minnesota on Thursday after being sidelined for the previous game because of a sprained neck. Lively was listed as questionable with the injury he...
Mavs' Lively misses Game 4 loss to Wolves with sprained neck as Kleber returns from shoulder injury
DALLAS (AP) — Mavericks center Dereck Lively II was out of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals with a sprained neck, and Dallas missed a chance to sweep Minnesota, losing 105-100 on Tuesday night. The Mavs tried to make up for Lively's absence with the return of Maxi Kleber,...
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving each score 33 points as Mavs beat Wolves for 3-0 lead in West finals
DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic lunged for the ball after a steal by Anthony Edwards, knocking it far enough away to create a scramble and a jump ball the Dallas superstar won. The Mavericks made all the big plays again — on both ends of the court — and are a win away from their...
Mavs rookie Dereck Lively II leaves Game 3 of West finals after taking knee to head
DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II was ruled out of Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against Minnesota on Sunday night after getting hit in the back of the head by a knee from the Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns. The accidental contact caused his head to...
Mavericks stand tall against Timberwolves with big effort around the rim
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Few teams can match the size of the Minnesota Timberwolves with their trio of towers in NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid. The revamped Dallas Mavericks showed they might just be...
Mavs big men are quite the tandem, but now comes quite the challenge from towering Wolves
DALLAS (AP) — Daniel Gafford remembers facing Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and company about two weeks before he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks this season. That memory alone is enough for the 6-foot-10 center to know the challenge that's coming when the Western Conference...
Gilgeous-Alexander has 29 points to help Thunder roll past Mavericks in Game 1 of West semifinals
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was his usual self and Luka Doncic wasn't. Gilgeous-Alexander had 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 117-95 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Western...
Luka Doncic and defensive-minded Mavs take a chippy 101-90 win over Clippers for 2-1 series lead
DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic called out to his coaches during a flurry of 3-pointers from James Harden. The Mavericks superstar and NBA scoring champion wanted to defend the star guard of the Los Angeles Clippers. It's suddenly defense first in Dallas. ...
