Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford will be sidelined at least six weeks after suffering a grade three right MCL sprain in his right knee, sources tell ESPN's Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon.
Gafford suffered the injury in Monday's loss to the Sacramento Kings. The Mavericks initially said he would be out just two weeks with a knee sprain.
Dallas' frontcourt is severely undermanned already. Newly acquired big man Anthony Davis is reportedly out several weeks with an abductor strain and center Dereck Lively II has no return date after suffering a stress fracture in his right ankle Jan. 14. Dwight Powell has also been sidelined for Dallas' last 14 games with a strained hip.
The only healthy big man left on the Mavericks' roster is 27-year-old rookie Kylor Kelley, who has only appeared in seven NBA contests. They deployed 6-foot-7 two-way forward Kessler Edwards at center for their last two outings, in which they managed wins over the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat.
Gafford, 26, is averaging 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 51 games for Dallas this season. He's started in 28 of those contests.
The Mavericks have won four of their last five contests and head into the All-Star break with a 30-26 record. They sit eighth in the Western Conference.
