Dennis Smith Jr. missed several games at the end of last season with a back ailment. He will miss Monday’s game with what a back strain. No one seems overly concerned about it. Fizdale reiterated on Sunday that the club was being cautious with Smith Jr. It would be a surprise if he didn’t play in the Knicks’ next preseason game (Friday against the Wizards).
More on Dennis Smith Injury
Ian Begley: Dennis Smith Jr. (back) is likely out tomorrow against Washington, David Fizdale says.
Mike Vorkunov: Dennis Smith Jr and Isaiah Hicks will play and come off the bench for the Knicks tonight against the Wizards
Stefan Bondy: David Fizdale was optimistic Dennis Smith and Emmanuel Mudiay will play again this season, but not Allonzo Trier. Apparently Trier's calf injury flared up against yesterday.
Ian Begley: Dennis Smith Jr. will not play for the Knicks tonight due to a sore lower back. The injury had kept him out of several games last month.
Marc Berman: Dennis Smith Jr. (disk) is back tonight with Fizdale admitting the back "still sore.'': "I’m not going to put Dennis in a tough situation. He’s been down for a while. The back is still sore. But he wants to go. The more minutes he can play with these guys, the better."
Steve Popper: Dennis Smith is going to play. Knox is starting. Smith off the bench.
Mike Vorkunov: Noah Vonleh, Dennis Smith Jr., and Allonzo Trier are all out for the Knicks tomorrow vs. the Clippers. They'll be re-evaluated next week.
Marc Berman: Fizdale said Dennis Smith Jr. Is at least few games from returning. Back still bothering.
Steve Popper: Dennis Smith Jr. is out tonight with a sore back. Kadeem Allen was recalled from Westchester. Ntilikina is still out. Mario Hezonja is available.
Dwain Price: DSJ didn't practice today because of the stomach flu. Carlisle: "He went to see the doctor, so he'll be listed as questionable for tomorrow." Smith also has missed the past three games with tightness in the middle of his back. The #Mavs host the #Spurs tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
Dwain Price: DSJ is listed as day to day with tightness in his back. He said: "I was feeling great going into it, and when I woke up (on Jan. 8) it was worse. I'm getting old. That’s all it is. That's what happens with old age. Father Time is undefeated."
Dwain Price: Dennis Smith Jr. missed Wednesday's game against Phoenix with soreness in his back and didn't make the trip to Minnesota for tonight's game against the Timberwolves. Carlisle: "I don't have an update. I hope it's not serious. I don't think it is." @Dallas Mavericks
Dwain Price: Carlisle on Dennis Smith Jr.'s minutes tonight. "We'll kind of go whistle to whistle and see how he’s doing. I think it’ll be difficult for him to play a full compliment of minutes. But hey, he’s 20 years old. We’re happy to have him back. We've missed him." @Dallas Mavericks
Dennis Smith Jr. believes he's very close to returning to action and that he "for sure" will be in uniform before 2018 is history. "I'm making great progress," he said after the final pre-Christmas game Sunday in Portland. "I'm getting better with everything and it's feeling better every day. It'll be soon, I can tell you that, for sure."
"I have no update on Dennis," coach Rick Carlisle said before the two-day Christmas break. "He's doing consistently better and hasn't had setbacks is what I can tell you." Smith has been getting daily therapy on the wrist, but a big part of the recovery is simply hoping Mother Nature takes care of business.
Mark Followill: Dennis Smith Jr and JJ Barea are both out vs Sacramento tonight
Dwain Price: Rick Carlisle said Dennis Smith Jr. (wrist) will not play tonight against the @Orlando Magic , and he also said he's "900,000 percent sure" Maxi Kleber (elbow) will play tonight.
Tim MacMahon: Mavs PG Dennis Smith Jr. is doubtful for Monday’s home game vs. Magic as he continues to deal with a sore right wrist.
Jonathan Feigen: With Dennis Smith Jr. out, Mavericks rookie Jalen Brunson getting his second start.
Jonathan Feigen: Mavs guard Dennis Smith Jr. and center Maxi Kleber are out against the Rockets.
Dwain Price: Carlisle said Dennis had a root canal today. @Dallas Mavericks
Jonathan Feigen: Luka Doncic (illness), Dwight Powell (left knee effusion) and Dennis Smith Jr. (right wrist sprain) are questionable for the Mavericks against the Rockets tomorrow. Expect updates on Paul, Green shortly.
Tim Bontemps: Rick Carlisle says Dennis Smith Jr. is out tonight against the Celtics with a right wrist injury. "It's not right yet. He's not going to go." Says Smith hurt his wrist against Memphis. Wes Matthews, though, will play.
Eddie Sefko: Dennis Smith Jr. is out tonight after rolling ankle in Philly. Right players will see action, including Yogi Ferrell in his 82nd of season.
Dwain Price: Dennis Smith Jr. on his impending comeback: "I’m going to finish the season out. Whenever they think that I’m ready to come back, I’ll be back. Like I said, just finish the year out strong. Like I said, we’re just going to rehab and make sure I’m ready whenever I do come back."
Dwain Price: I just talked to Dennis Smith Jr. He said he's doing fine. And he's still wearing the walking boot. Smith sprained his left ankle with 3:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter of last night's game against Brooklyn. @Dallas Mavericks
Eddie Sefko: Rick Carlisle said Mavericks may have "dodged a bullet" with Dennis Smith Jr. injury. Won't be on crutches tonight
The good news, as painful as the sprain may be: the injury is not season-ending. Smith will be able to fully recover without any long-lasting issue. Said coach Rick Carlisle: "X-rays were negative. He won't require crutches. I have no timetable at this time. We probably dodged a bullet. I would think he's doubtful for Tuesday, but that's all I know." Added Junior: "Very relieved. ... I don't want to say I'm going to be ready for the next game, but they're going to make sure I can get back this season, for sure."
Eddie Sefko: Dennis Smith Jr. will play tonight against Rockets after sitting a game for knee soreness.
Mark Followill: Dennis Smith Jr out tonight with left knee soreness. Carlisle anticipates he might play tomorrow vs Houston
Earl K. Sneed: Dennis Smith Jr. (left hip strain) will play vs. Detroit, per Rick Carlisle. #DALvsDET
Earl K. Sneed: Rick Carlisle says Dennis Smith Jr. (left hip strain) is “optimistically questionable” Wednesday vs. Detroit. He went through an intense workout Monday and Tuesday. #DALvsDET
Earl K. Sneed: Dennis Smith Jr. (left hip strain) went through @Dallas Mavericks shootaround. #DALvsPHX
Tim MacMahon: Mavs rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr. (left hip strain) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Suns. Smith has missed the last five games.
Mavs rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) will not play on the upcoming road trip, coach Rick Carlisle said.
Earl K. Sneed: Rick Carlisle says there’s no timetable for Dennis Smith Jr. (left hip strain) to return: “Him getting 100 percent healthy is our No. 1 priority.” Smith will meet with the team physician when the @Dallas Mavericks return home.
Earl K. Sneed: To be clear, Dennis Smith Jr. (left hip strain) is progressing, per Rick Carlisle. Mavs just don't want to put a timetable on his return until they're sure he's 100 percent.
Earl K. Sneed: Dennis Smith Jr. (left hip strain) says he hopes to return sooner than Rick Carlisle’s two-game prediction: “I don’t know about two (games). I know one is mandatory. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow.”
Eddie Sefko: Dennis Smith Jr. (Hip) will be out at least the next two games, per source.
Earl K. Sneed: Per Rick Carlisle, Dennis Smith Jr. (left hip strain) is still questionable tonight vs. Milwaukee. #DALatMIL
Eddie Sefko: Rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. did not go through practice on Thursday to rest a sore hip area. Not believed to be anything serious. Status to be updated Friday in advance of Milwaukee game.
Eddie Sefko: Dennis Smith Jr. says his left knee is fine and he'll play tonight at Utah 8 pm tip. Said the "questionable" designation doesn't apply 2nite
Earl K. Sneed: Rick Carlisle says the @Dallas Mavericks are monitoring Dennis Smith Jr.'s left knee closely: "This is a greater workload than he's ever hard."
Tim MacMahon: Mavs rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr., who missed the last two games due to left knee effusion, is questionable for Monday against the Warriors.
Eddie Sefko: Rick Carlisle on any news re: Dennis Smith Jr.s, left knee: "Nothing that I’m going to report.” Don't overreact to that. Just nothing new.
Smith tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in August 2015, the summer before his senior year of high school. He experienced swelling in the knee after shootaround Friday, and the decision was made to not start him less than an hour before the game.
Earl K. Sneed: Per @MavsPR, Dennis Smith Jr. is out for the @Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento with left knee effusion. #DALvsSAC
Earl K. Sneed: Dennis Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain) says he will play for the @Dallas Mavericks tonight in Charlotte. He'll have a lot of family in the crowd.
Earl K. Sneed: Dennis Smith Jr.: "Being a gamer, one of my goals is just to not miss any games after my ACL injury. I missed a whole year with that."
