Update: This story has been updated.
The Dallas Mavericks have officially listed Luka Doncic as a doubtful (left calf strain) for Saturday afternoon’s playoff opener against the Utah Jazz.
Doubtful leaves some chance of Luka Doncic being able to play Game 1 tomorrow but don’t get much if any hope. https://t.co/3xaiRDZsaj
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) April 15, 2022
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported early Friday afternoon that Doncic would miss Game 1 on Saturday and that major concerns remain over the 23-year-old All-Star’s availability ahead of Game 2 on Monday night.
The “doubtful” label signals that Doncic most likely won’t play on Saturday, although the designation doesn’t prevent the Mavericks from activating him should his recovery make significant progress the next day.
The Mavericks remain hopeful about Doncic’s progress this week, but injury experts speaking to The Dallas Morning News on Monday said minor Grade 1 calf strains take about seven to 10 days to heal, while more severe Grade 1 strains take 2 weeks.
The team have not disclosed the severity of Doncic’s injury since his MRI on Monday.
While Doncic attended film sessions and was present for treatments and exercises, Doncic did not train during any of the Mavericks’ three full sessions that week.
At the end of practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, he rode a stationary exercise bike while teammates finished target practice, and on Thursday he worked on a treadmill just before reporters were allowed into the facility.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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