Despite lingering pain, Gafford battles back, providing crucial rim protection and toughness for an injured Dallas squad, setting a resilient tone.
HOUSTON — Daniel Gafford wasn’t at full strength, but his presence made a difference. In only his second game of the season, the Dallas Mavericks center turned in a strong effort in Monday night’s 110–102 loss to the Houston Rockets, finishing with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, four rebounds, one assist, two steals, and three blocks in 27 minutes. The performance marked his 77th career game with at least three blocks — the 10th-most by any player since 2019–20.
He hobbled off late in the third quarter after contesting a shot, briefly heading to the locker room before returning to start the fourth — a moment that drew respect from teammates and coaches alike.
“It was just discomfort. Came down wrong,” Gafford said. “Once I felt good running, I was fine. It’s only my second game back, so I’m taking baby steps to get to 100 percent.”
The Mavericks have needed every bit of that resilience. With Anthony Davis (calf strain) and Dereck Lively II (ankle) still out, Gafford’s minutes have carried added weight for a team short on size and rim protection.
Head coach Jason Kidd had planned to limit his workload to around 18 minutes, but Gafford’s competitiveness — and the team’s need for interior defense — kept him on the floor longer.
“It was a dogfight,” Gafford said of facing Houston’s front line, which included Alperen Şengün, Steven Adams, and Clint Capela. “They’ve got big, physical guys. You feel like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders. We knew how physical it’d be, and we battled.”
Gafford’s timing and activity in the paint helped stabilize Dallas early when Houston threatened to pull away. He converted four of his five shot attempts and provided the kind of vertical spacing the Mavericks have lacked since Lively’s injury in January.
Despite limited conditioning, Gafford also made a visible impact on the glass. Dallas gave up 14 offensive rebounds in the first half but only one after halftime — something Gafford credited to a collective effort to “push back” against Houston’s physicality.
“I told the other bigs to do to them what they were doing to us — push back, hold ground,” Gafford said. “There was a lot of dirty work under the rim that didn’t get called, so we matched it.”
Kidd praised Gafford’s determination to return quickly and play through lingering soreness, calling him “a tone-setter” for a shorthanded roster.
“When you talk about grit, he’s one of those guys who embodies it,” Kidd said. “He gives us energy, contests shots, and brings toughness that we need right now.”
After exiting briefly against the Rockets, Gafford showed no setbacks. He was not listed on the Mavericks’ injury report ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, signaling that the team’s starting center rotation may finally be stabilizing after weeks of injuries.
“Every day in this league is a blessing,” Gafford said. “I don’t take it for granted. I just want to keep getting better and feeling stronger.”
The Mavericks return home Wednesday to face New Orleans, hoping Gafford’s grit can help steady a roster still fighting to stay afloat early in the season.