The Dallas Mavericks had an early tip to start Martin Luther King Jr. Day against the Charlotte Hornets, entering the game wildly short-handed. Dallas was without Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II, Quentin Grimes, Dante Exum, Dwight Powell, and Jaden Hardy, while Charlotte was missing Brandon Miller, Tre Mann, and Grant Williams.

Dereck Lively II is the Mavericks' starting center when he's healthy and not in foul trouble, but it's worth having a quality backup for those concerns. But Gafford is making a little over $13 million this season and is likely viewed as a much more valuable asset than Maxi Kleber.

It was a short-handed Southwestern Division matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans, as Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Herb Jones were among the key players out on both sides.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) shots against Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford (21 ... Rodriguez) Dallas Mavericks’ Jaden Hardy celebrates with head coach Jason Kidd after a three-pointer against the Portland Trail Blazers in the ...

Pelicans Top Performers Dejounte Murray – 30 points (season-high), 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 3PM Trey Murphy III – 24 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists Mavericks Top Performers Daniel Gafford – 27 points (career-high),

DALLAS — Jaden Hardy scored a season-high 25 points off the bench, P.J. Washington had 23 points and 14 rebounds and the Dallas Mavericks used a late 16-0 run to beat the Portland Trail Blazers ...

Dallas, according to front-office sources with other teams, has dangled Gafford in those discussions. That’s Daniel Gafford’s fourth foul and he takes a seat. He’s been a big part of perhaps ...

NEW ORLEANS — Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford scored his 27th point ... He also missed just one shot, going 12-13 from the field. Jaden Hardy added 21 points and Spencer Dinwiddie added ...

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The Oklahoma City Thunder put forth a supreme effort on the front end of a back-to-back set, and they will look to play just as well on the second side when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.