Dallas Mavericks star point guard Luka Doncic was diagnosed with left calf strain following an MRI Monday afternoon with the Mavericks announced Tuesday. Doncic’s status for Game 1 of the Mavericks’ first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz on Saturday is still unknown as Dallas hasn’t set a timeline for his return, but things don’t seem to be going in the right direction.
Those around the Mavericks organization are skeptical that Doncic will be willing to play against the Jazz in Saturday’s series opener – which is due to tip at 12pm local time – according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported that the injury ” more than just a light calf strain.”
“The Mavericks are preparing very much for the possibility, not just maybe not having [Doncic] in Game 1, but maybe even Game 2 on Monday. If this was the regular season, you wouldn’t even be talking about the fact that he might be playing this weekend,” Wojnarowski said on the NBA Countdown. But a lot of skepticism, worries about how soon he’ll be available in that playoff series against Utah.
Doncic picked up the injury in Sunday’s Dallas regular-season finals against the San Antonio Spurs. After the Mavericks went 18 points clear in the third quarter, Doncic landed awkwardly after raising for a pass and immediately began grimacing in pain as he grabbed his left calf.
Here’s how the injury happened:
Though Doncic was not officially ruled out for any part of the playoffs, this injury comes as a blow to a Mavericks team that has achieved home field advantage in the postseason for the first time since 2011. If Doncic isn’t 100 percent healthy, not only will it hamper Dallas in the series, but there’s always a chance of worsening the current injury. Given how important Doncic is to everything the Mavericks do offensively, it only makes sense that the Mavs would want to be extra cautious with this fickle injury.
If Doncic is out for Game 1, Dallas will turn to Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson to try and fill in the All-NBA guard’s shoes. While that’s a tall order, Dinwiddie and Brunson have been integral to Dallas’ success this season.
Dinwiddie was one of the most influential players traded as of the deadline as he offered glimpses of his pre-ACL teardrop self in Dallas. He went from averaging just 12.6 points on 37 percent from the field and 31 percent from deep with the Washington Wizards this season to 15.8 points with a far better 49.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from afar the Mavs. Dinwiddie was a revelation for the Mavericks off the bench as he gave Dallas another creator alongside Doncic who can truly create for himself and others.
Brunson has also been a bright spot for the Mavericks this year. The third-year guard is averaging career-highs in points (16.3), assists (4.8) and shooting over 50 percent from the field in his sophomore season. If Dallas goes without Doncic for any part of this series, Brunson and Dinwiddie will become the key players on this team against the Jazz.
There’s about three days between now and the Mavericks’ tip at 1:00 p.m. ET against Utah on Saturday. During that time, the Mavericks and Jazz, as well as the rest of the NBA world, will be holding their breath to see if Doncic will be healthy enough to qualify for Game 1.