Latest Daniel Gafford News
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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. ...
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