Klay Thompson Sidelined for Mavericks-Rockets Matchup with Knee Soreness
DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks will be without veteran guard Klay Thompson when they face the Houston Rockets Saturday night at the American Airlines Center. Thompson was a late addition to the injury report, officially ruled out due to left knee soreness, according to Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.
The absence of Thompson comes after a 132-111 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night, representing the second game of a back-to-back for Dallas. Kidd indicated that Jaden Hardy will have an opportunity to build on his strong performance from Friday, where he led the team with 23 points.
“Next man up,” Kidd told reporters before Saturday’s game. “(Jaden) Hardy did a great job for us last night, so he can build on what he did last night and can help us in that department.”
Thompson’s injury adds to a growing list of concerns for the Mavericks, who are currently 8-16 and 12th in the Western Conference standings. The Rockets, meanwhile, hold a 5-15 record and are second in the conference.
The Mavericks have been navigating a challenging season, despite a recent three-game winning streak prior to the loss against the Thunder, who currently boast the best record in the NBA with only one loss.
Beyond Thompson, the Mavericks are also dealing with several other injuries. Daniel Gafford has also been ruled out for Saturday’s game, while P.J. Washington is listed as a game-time decision as he recovers from a right ankle sprain. Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Dereck Lively II (right foot injury management) and Danté Exum (right knee injury management) remain sidelined.
The team’s frontcourt has been particularly impacted by injuries, with Washington, Gafford, and Lively all expected to play key roles in the Mavericks’ interior defense and rebounding. Their absences have forced the team to rely on Anthony Davis, Dwight Powell, and Moussa Cissé to fill the void.
Saturday’s game also marks a milestone for Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant, who scored 28 points in Friday’s 117-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns, surpassing 31,000 career points and becoming just the eighth player in NBA history to reach that mark.
The Mavericks and Rockets have a long-standing rivalry, with Houston holding the edge in the all-time regular season series, leading 106-98 as of January 31, 2026.
Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 8:30 PM EST at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
