This looks bad.
Hopefully it’s not what it looked like, but Dallas’ big man and critical role player Dwight Powell went down in the first half against the Clippers with a non-contact leg injury and will not return to the game with what the team is calling a right Achilles injury.
#Mavericks center Dwight Powell (right Achilles injury) will not return to tonight’s game.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 22, 2020
Here is a video of Powell going down as he plants to drive the lane; if you are at all squeamish this would be one to skip.
That looks a lot like a torn Achilles. Medical tests likely will confirm that tomorrow.
Powell is starting at center for the Mavericks, giving them 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds a game, more importantly bringing toughness and doing the dirty work needed inside to allow Kristaps Porzingis to play his pick-and-pop game on the outside. Powell has become an important part of what is working in Dallas.
If this is a torn Achilles Powell is done for the season. This will ultimately mean more run for Maxi Kleber and Boban Marjanovic, plus it could send Dallas out into the market looking for another big man before the trade deadline.