3:07 p.m. ET
Adrian Wojnarowski
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Experienced NBA insider- Host of the Woj Pod
- With ESPN since 2017
Tim MacMahon
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ESPN Author- Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
- Includes the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks
- Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM
Experienced NBA insider
ESPN AuthorSALT LAKE CITY — Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was ruled out for Game 3 against Utah on Thursday night, sources told ESPN.
Doncic missed Games 1 and 2 with a left calf injury but has gradually increased his workload on the training surface in recent days.
Doncic stayed at Vivint Arena after most of his teammates left Thursday morning for extensive on-pitch training under the guidance of Mavs Player Health and Performance Director Casey Smith. Training included running, ball handling and shooting.
“I feel great,” Doncic told ESPN as he exited the arena.
The Western Conference first-round series is tied as it moves to Salt Lake City.
The average absence due to calf strains for NBA players this season was 16 days, according to information from InStreetClothes.com. Mavs reserve guard Frank Ntilikina was returning from a calf strain 12 days earlier this season. Game 3 takes place 11 days after Doncic was injured.
“He’s a player who has so much ahead of him in his future so it’s crucial that he’s smart about it,” said Mavs guard Jalen Brunson, whose career-best 41 points propelled him to the Game 2 win. “I think it just shows the trust he has in us too. He trusts us. He’s just making the best decision for himself. As team-mates we respect that.”
Doncic, who sustained the injury in the regular-season finals on April 10, has gradually increased basketball activity, making explosive moves off his left leg for the first time during the recovery process in a one-on-one training session on Tuesday. He was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice session and fueled cautious optimism that his return was on the horizon.
“If there’s a risk, I don’t think I’ll play,” Doncic said on Wednesday. “But like I said, yesterday and today we did some good things. If it’s not a risk, I don’t want to play limited minutes because I’m nervous. I want to be out as long as possible but I want to say I’ll see how I feel and we’ll talk to the medical staff.
“I don’t know if I’ll be 100 percent. I think that’s difficult at the moment. But if I’m ready and there’s no risk [aggravating the] Injury, I’ll be out there.”