DALLAS — Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic’s recovery from a strained left calf is well under way to give reasonable hope he can return when the team’s first-round series with the Utah Jazz moves to Salt Lake City this week, sources said ESPN.
A source told ESPN that Doncic’s status is “uncertain” for Thursday’s third game and said the guard is “on a day-to-day basis.” Another source said while there is hope Doncic could return for Game 3, it is “not a sure thing”.
The Mavericks were off Tuesday, but Doncic continued with his rehabilitation work, which included gradually increasing basketball activity. How Doncic’s Wade reacts to Tuesday’s training session and Wednesday’s session, which is set to determine his participation, will be crucial to his chances of returning this week.
Dallas evened the streak with Monday’s 110-104 home win, led by guard Jalen Brunson’s career-high 41 points, while Doncic cheered enthusiastically.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said ahead of Monday’s game that Doncic was “definitely going in the right direction.”
“He’s doing more every day. Like I said from the start, he’s in a great place mentally, I think. He was happy, he was joking, he was himself,” Kidd said. “…He’s doing everything he can do right now and hopefully he’ll be able to play soon, but if he can’t play then we’ll have to play without him.”
Doncic suffered a calf strain during the Mavericks’ regular season finale on April 10.
The average absence for a calf strain for NBA players this season was 16 days, according to information from InStreetClothes.com. Mavericks 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.
“I know he’s dying to get out soon, but he needs to take his time,” Brunson said after Monday’s win. “I know he’s doing everything in his power not to let his team down, but he has to make the decision that’s best for him. Don’t necessarily know where he is [in the recovery process], but all I know is that he’s a competitor and wants to be out there. We’re trying to hold it down for him.”