When the Dallas Mavericks signed Naji Marshall to a three-year, $27 million contract in the offseason, they expected him to bring intensity. And he did just that on Tuesday, going right after LeBron James in a road game versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

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The Dallas Mavericks Naji Marshall recently went against LeBron James with too small gesture after sinking a smooth jumper over him.

Bumped into starting lineup

He's had a solid campaign so far, posting averages of 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 three-pointers in 25.1 minutes.

Washington has been cleared to play Saturday, so Marshall will retreat to his bench role. As a reserve this season (32 games), Marshall has averaged 11.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Dallas Mavericks by a final score of 126-102 on Sunday. As the score suggests, it was a forgettable game for the Mavs. In fact, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington and Naji Marshall all recorded their worst plus-minus marks of the season.

Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall handles the ball during an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Dallas, Monday, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/)

Bumped into starting lineup

Injuries have decimated the Mavericks throughout the season and have affected nearly every player on the roster. While there were a few minor injuries, there were others that had long-term ramifications. Both situations led to inconsistent lineups and Dallas' slippage to 10th in the Western Conference.

But when news emerged Tuesday that star guard Kyrie Irving is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee, Mavericks fans immediately pinpointed the true Doomsday, or rather night, when on Feb. 1 Doncic was traded to the Lakers.

Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd took issue with media speculation that Kyrie Irving’s heavy workload over the last month led to the nine-time All-Star’s season-ending knee injury.