Luka Doncic had an MRI Friday morning to find out the severity of a heel contusion he suffered throughout the Dallas Mavericks 111-106 win in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night time. The imaging revealed that the heel contusion is “not extreme” per Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, however his standing for Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Golden State Warriors is unknown at the moment.
Doncic did not observe on Friday, and he will not journey with the staff to San Francisco because it begins a five-game highway journey that options video games in opposition to the Warriors, Jazz, Clippers and back-to-back matchups with the Kings. However, Doncic hasn’t been formally dominated out of the Warriors recreation or the remainder of the highway journey. In reality, the Mavericks are uncertain if he’ll must miss any time in any respect.
While speaking to reporters after observe, Mavericks ahead Dorian Finney-Smith alluded to Doncic not taking part in firstly of this highway journey, saying “We’ve acquired to determine it out. Hopefully we would get (Christian) Wood again. … That’d be a pleasant piece so as to add with out Luka taking part in.” Wood, who has been out for seven video games with a fractured thumb, scrimmaged at observe on Friday and is inching nearer to a return.
Doncic sustained the heel contusion within the third quarter of Thursday night time’s recreation. As the four-time All-Star tried to raise for a dunk he was blocked by Pelicans ahead Brandon Ingram and collided with New Orleans large man Jonas Valanciunas. As Doncic fell he landed proper on his proper foot very bluntly and commenced grabbing in the back of his ankle instantly as he stood up. He tried to remain in for a pair possessions, however then signaled to Kidd on the bench to take him out of the sport. Doncic walked straight again to the locker room and was then dominated out for the rest of the sport.
At the time of Doncic’s harm the Mavericks led 81-55, however the Pelicans took benefit of Dallas being with out its star and virtually received the sport down the stretch. The Mavericks in the end pulled out the win, nevertheless it was simply the newest instance in displaying how vital of a task Doncic performs for Dallas in every recreation.
Prior to the harm, Doncic labored as much as 31 factors, eight rebounds and 4 assists. The Mavericks famous person virtually single-handily outscored the Pelicans after the primary quarter, as New Orleans completed the primary body of motion with 22 factors whereas Doncic tallied 21 factors.
This heel contusion is simply the newest harm to Doncic, who additionally sustained an ankle sprain throughout Dallas’ win in opposition to the Phoenix Suns final week. Doncic performed simply three minutes in that recreation, and sat out the next contest in opposition to the Utah Jazz. But when he returned in a gathering in opposition to the Pistons he confirmed no indicators of lingering ache, dropping 53 factors on 70.8 p.c from the ground to outlast Detroit.
If Doncic is compelled to overlook prolonged time, it will be extremely detrimental to a Mavericks staff that depends totally on the brilliance of the 23-year-old guard to make their offense work. Dallas’ second half meltdown in opposition to the Pelicans with out Doncic was a obvious instance of that. There is not one other dependable and constant shot creator on Dallas’ roster, so when Doncic misses video games, the Mavericks endure enormously.
Despite clinging onto the No. 4 spot within the West with a 28-25 file, solely two video games separate them from the No. 11 spot within the West. So if Doncic has to sit down out a number of video games of the Mavericks upcoming highway journey, it would not be stunning to search out Dallas stumbling again down the standings.
