Is Luka Doncic playing against the Utah Jazz on Saturday?
Luke Doncic is reportedly expected to miss Game 1 of the Dallas Mavericks’ first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz due to a calf injury.
The Dallas Mavericks are expected to be one superstar player short as they head into the playoffs.
Point guard Luka Doncic is likely to miss Game 1 of the Mavs’ first-round playoff series on Saturday against the Utah Jazz, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Doncic’s strain could need 7-10 days
The 23-year-old hurt his leg in the team’s last game of the regular season on Sunday. Dallas announced on Tuesday that an MRI had diagnosed the injury as a calf strain. Such injuries usually result in at least seven days off the floor.
The Mavericks are handling Doncic’s situation as a day-to-day injury which will continue to be treated, but the team has not yet officially announced the Slovenian’s status for Game 1. It would make sense for Dallas to be cautious about his coming back to play, as there is a possibility that returning to action too early could aggravate his leg.
Doncic: More than just a mild strain
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN also reported that the Mavericks were skeptical about the readiness of the former NBA Rookie of the Year to play on Saturday, saying that the injury was more than just a mild calf strain.
“The Mavericks are very much preparing for the possibility of not only maybe not having [Doncic] in Game 1, but maybe even Game 2 on Monday,” Wojnarowski told NBA Countdown.
Dallas will feel the three-time All-Star’s absence, as he has delivered an average of 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists this season.
If he is unable to play against the Jazz, the Mavericks are likely to count on guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson to step up and deliver. The two players have played a major role in the team’s winning run this season.