Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic May Miss Playoff Games With Calf Injury

Luka Doncic’s accessibility for the playoffs is unsure. The Dallas Mavericks star stretched his left calf in the 3rd quarter of the last videogame of the routine season versus the San Antonio Spurs.

The group revealed Tuesday that an MRI verified the stress. Doncic has began treatment however does not have a schedule to return, the group stated.

“He has a strained calf, and that’s what it is,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd stated Tuesday. “We’ll see how he feels as the week goes on.”

Doncic is the alpha and omega of the Mavericks’ offense. The prospective first-team All-NBA gamer moved into the MVP conversation late in the season and balanced 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 8.7 helps and 1.2 takes for the year.

Dallas will face the Utah Jazz in the opening round of the Western Conference NBA playoffs. The Mavericks hold the No. 4 seed while the Jazz is 5th. This season, the Mavericks split their record with the Jazz, with each group winning 2 videogames–neither group won on the roadway.

It is a difficult match for Dallas, a group with raised expectations to lastly relocation past the veryfirst round of the playoff. In the last 2 seasons, the Mavericks dealtwith the Los Angeles Clippers in the postseason, losing both times.

To advance, the Mavericks will requirement Doncic offered. Their lineup is capable, however Doncic is an elite skill. Still, Kidd is reluctant to state whether he will play.

“We’ll see,” Kidd stated. “He’s in excellent spirits today. We’ll see how his body feels tomorrow. We’ll prepare with him, and we’ll likewise prepare without him–just like any injury that we’ve had all season. For him, it’s simply to see how his body feels each day. We all hope that he’s able to go in videogame one, however if he’s not, we’ll be ready to relocation forward without him.”

This wouldn’t be the veryfirst stint in which Dallas played without Doncic. During the routine season, the Mavericks were 8-9 when he didn’t play. But Dallas does have more alternatives now if Doncic missesouton any of the playoffs.

The Mavericks obtained Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans at the trade duedate, sendingout Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards. In his short time with Dallas, Dinwiddie hasactually developed himself as a secret gamer in the rotation, even beginning 7 videogames.

With the Mavericks, he is averaging 15.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.9 helps. If Doncic isn’t readilyavailable, he’ll be the next guy up.

“If we had to play without Luka, Spencer is able to come in and fill that space,” Kidd stated. “We’re not asking him to be Luka, we’re asking him to be himself. We feel positive if he has to start. That’s what we’ll do.”

When it comes down to it, the Mavericks’ medical personnel will have the last state on Doncic’s health. The group has not ruled him for videogame one. Not . There is still a possibility that he plays.

Kidd will leave that choice up to the group’s medical workers and Doncic. What he won’t do is danger the health of his star gamer long-lasting.

“As the coach, it’s constantly the gamer’s call,” Kidd stated. “If he’s able to put on his shoes, then he’s going to go. If he can’t, we’re not going to endanger putting him in a scenario to make things evenworse.”