Will Doncic play in the playoffs game against the Utah Jazz?
The Dallas Mavericks have confirmed star player Luka Doncic’s strained calf, and have not announced if he will be able to play in Game 1 of the playoffs.
An MRI has confirmed that Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has suffered a strain on his left calf. The Mavericks have not yet announced the severity of the injury, nor if the MVP candidate will be able to play for their game against the Utah Jazz in the opening round of the playoffs.
A fluke injury in the season finale
The 23-year-old sustained the injury in their last game of the regular season, which the Mavericks won over the San Antonio Spurs, 130-120. They ended the season as the number four seed.
Doncic hurt his calf with less than three minutes left in the third quarter and called for a timeout. He was out for the rest of the game and immediately received treatment for his leg.
He racked up 26 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds before his departure from the game.
The extent of Doncic’s strain will spell the difference
The time the Slovenian will need to recover depends on the grade of the strain. A grade I calf strain, considered mild, would usually heal in seven to 10 days, while one of grade II (a partial tear) would mend in approximately four to six weeks. A grade III strain which would be a full tear, could need up to three months to fully heal.
Doncic has almost a full week to rest and recover and is known to be tough, so he just might make it when Dallas kicks off the next stage of the season.
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If he is not well enough to play against the Jazz, the Mavericks are likely to rely on point guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson to pick up the considerable slack. The two have contributed a great deal to Dallas’ campaign this year.
The Mavericks will go up against the Utah Jazz on Saturday in the playoffs opening round at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.