The Mavericks are limping through the season, with injuries piling up at the worst possible time. Already missing key players, the team was hoping for a spark from PJ Washington as they took on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. It’s been a rough stretch for Washington, who has been a regular name on the injury report. He missed Thursday’s game against the Hornets due to a right ankle sprain, leaving his availability for tonight in question.

After some uncertainty, he finally suited up against Milwaukee—but his return didn’t last long. Washington’s comeback was short-lived, adding yet another setback to Dallas’ growing list of concerns.

PJ Washington has been in and out of the lineup, missing three of the Mavericks’ last six games this month. Heading into the matchup against the Bucks, he was listed as questionable, but ultimately, the team cleared him to play.

That didn’t mean he was at full strength, though. Head coach Jason Kidd had already expressed concerns about his health, limiting him to 25-30 minutes for the night.

But before the game even ended, another injury setback hit the Mavericks, adding to their already growing list of troubles.

In the third quarter, Washington felt ankle soreness and headed to the locker room. As per reports, he had been ruled out for the rest of the night. Before misfortune struck, the 26-year-old scored four points on 2-of-8 shooting. Hip issues sidelined another important star, Caleb Martin, and injuries sidelined both Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.

The team is also playing without Anthony Davis, who is dealing with a left adductor strain. This is yet another setback for a team still recovering from the recent trade that saw the face of the franchise depart. And with the absence of key players and now with Washington’s injury, things aren’t looking good for the Mavericks.

PJ Washington’s struggles exposes Mavericks playoff concern

With Luka Doncic out of the picture, the Dallas Mavericks are struggling on the offensive side, and the issue has only worsened without Quentin Grimes. No wonder this has led to even greater responsibility for all the players to step up their offensive game. It’s quite a tough situation for the Mavericks, and they clearly need Washington for the playoffs.

Before missing the last matchup, Washington had his worst offensive game of the season. He scored zero points on 0-of-9 shooting. He was still impactful, grabbing 10 rebounds, and blocked four shots. This matchup just showed that the team will need the 26-year-old to keep his offensive game effective on the court to keep their chances alive.

He has been averaging 14.2 points on 43.5 % shooting from the field. Washington is one of the crucial pieces alongside Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. Moroever, his defense is equally good. Until Davis returns, critics will closely watch Washington’s performance. He was great in the playoffs last season, and the team which now stands No. 9 in the West with 32-29 record, will need more of that to compete.