Mavericks' Daniel Gafford exits clash vs. Warriors with shoulder injury

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford was forced to leave the game against the Golden State Warriors due to a shoulder injury.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:36am

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford was having a strong game against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, scoring 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting, with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. However, Gafford was forced to exit the game late in the fourth quarter due to a shoulder injury and did not return. The Mavericks eventually lost the game in overtime, 137-131, dropping their fourth straight game and falling to 23-49 on the season.

Why it matters

The Mavericks have already dealt with multiple injuries to key players this season, and Gafford's latest setback is another blow to a team struggling to stay competitive. Gafford has emerged as an important contributor for Dallas, so his absence could further hamper the team's efforts to turn around their disappointing campaign.

The details

Gafford was having a standout performance, shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the field, before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter due to the shoulder injury. The Warriors announced that Gafford would not return for the remainder of the contest.

  • The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks' game against the Warriors on Monday, March 24, 2026.

The players

Daniel Gafford

A center for the Dallas Mavericks who was forced to exit the game against the Golden State Warriors due to a shoulder injury.

Golden State Warriors

The opposing team that the Dallas Mavericks were playing when Daniel Gafford suffered his shoulder injury.

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What’s next

The Mavericks will need to evaluate the severity of Gafford's shoulder injury and determine how long he may be sidelined. His availability for the team's upcoming games will be a key factor as they try to end their losing streak.

The takeaway

Gafford's injury is the latest setback for the struggling Mavericks, who have been plagued by health issues throughout the season. The team will need to find a way to overcome these challenges and get key players like Gafford back on the court if they hope to turn their season around.