Mavericks vs. Grizzlies Monday NBA injury report, odds: Kyrie Irving downgraded to questionable

The Dallas Mavericks have been firing on all cylinders in the early going. They're 2-0 and averaging 125.5 points per game, the second-most in the NBA, but might be without All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving on Monday night in Memphis. The guard was recently downgraded to questionable due to a left foot sprain. That has dropped the Mavericks from -2.5 to 1.5 on the SportsLine consensus and the total from 227.5 to 225.5.

Irving is averaging 19.5 points on 39.0% shooting, 6.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds so far – not numbers up to his usual excellent standards, considering he averaged 27.0 points per game last year and has never shot worse than 43% from the field. Irving didn't show any signs of the injury during Friday's win over the Nets, as he played 34 minutes, and wasn't on the original injury report for Monday's game.

Luka Doncic has more than picked up the slack for Irving, averaging a league-high 41.0 PPG on 58% shooting along with 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists. Doncic set a career high with nine made 3-pointers on Friday against the Nets, including a tie-breaking three with 26.3 seconds remaining on a right-handed heave that banked in. He is now a +425 co-favorite with Denver's Nikola Jokic to win MVP.

Doncic, who missed the Mavs' final three games vs. Memphis last year, is averaging 30.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game in his last four outings against the Grizzlies, all wins. He is +275 for a triple-double.

Memphis is winless in large part because it has been so short-handed in the early going. Center Steven Adams is out for the season. Forward Brandon Clarke won't be back from a torn Achilles suffered in March anytime soon. Fellow forward Santi Aldama has yet to play due to a sprained right ankle. Guard Luke Kennard will miss a third game in a row Monday with a concussion. And star Ja Morant is suspended the first 25 games due to his off-court issues.

The Grizzlies have won three straight vs. the Mavericks (as noted, Doncic missed them all), tied for Memphis' longest winning streak in the overall series. This is their first meeting of the year.

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