NBA teams
Tim MacMahon, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Mavs' J.J. Barea out, Deron Williams doubtful for Game 2 vs. Thunder

NBA, Dallas Mavericks

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Dallas Mavericks are likely to be without their top two point guards in Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, after J.J. Barea and Deron Williams aggravated nagging injuries during the team's blowout loss Saturday.

Barea will miss Game 2 because of a groin strain that sidelined him for two of the Mavs' last three regular-season games. He aggravated the injury on a layup during the second quarter Saturday and did not return to the game after fouling on the next possession.

Williams is listed as doubtful because of a sports hernia that caused him to miss eight games late in the regular season. He performed poorly in Game 1, scoring only two points on 1-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes.

"It's hurt a little bit at some point in every game I've played," said Williams, who ranked second on the Mavs in scoring (14.1 points per game) and led the team with 5.8 assists per game this season. "Pretty much as soon as the game started, especially on defense and trying to run back, I could feel it. It was definitely hurting, so I went in the back and wrapped it and did some other stuff. I came back out, and as the game went on, it just got worse and worse. It was hard for me to run, hard for me to move."

Williams said he hopes to avoid surgery but won't know whether it's necessary until he rests for about a month after the Mavs' season ends. He anticipates being able to play again in this series.

Barea's status for the rest of the series is uncertain.

"No way tomorrow, and we'll see how it goes this week," said Barea, who was playing the best basketball of his career before he injured the groin. He averaged 24.2 points and seven assists in five straight wins. "Hopefully, I can try again on Thursday and go from there. These things take a little longer to heal, but I was feeling all right. I wasn't 100 percent, wasn't myself, but I was able to move. Then I did it again."

Dallas forward/center David Lee will also miss his second consecutive game because of a partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot.

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