Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic suffered a calf strain late in the third quarter of the team’s 130-120 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. After grabbing a rebound and turning up the court, Doncic grabbed at his left calf before limping toward the locker room. Now, it remains to be seen if he can play to begin the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Utah Jazz.
After undergoing an MRI on Monday, there has been no timetable set for his return. However, while there may not be a timetable for a return yet, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported a source responded when asked if Doncic can be ruled out already for Game 1, “No.”
“For some reason, I feel like he’ll be ready to go,” Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson said after Sunday’s win over the Spurs. “Knowing the competitor that he is, I feel like he’ll be ready. It’s unfortunate, but a competitor like that you can’t keep down for long.”
If the Mavericks are unable to have Doncic in the lineup for Game 1, they will be relying significantly more on midseason trade acquisition Spencer Dinwiddie.
LATEST NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS INFO: NBA Insider Reveals Surprising Russell Westbrook Trade Suitor
Dinwiddie has served as a key third guard in the Mavericks’ rotation since being traded to the team from the Washington Wizards. In 23 appearances, he’s averaged 15.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists as a member of the Mavs.
Jalen Brunson, who is set to reach free agency this offseason, will have a prime opportunity to showcase the strides he’s made in his development in a more prominent role. He struggled in last year’s playoffs against an LA Clippers team with a lot of length.
LATEST NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS INFO: NBA Insider Reveals Surprising Russell Westbrook Trade Suitor
The chances of the Dallas Mavericks pulling off a series win over the Utah Jazz is largely dependent on Luka Doncic’s status. The team faced their best chance of winning a playoffs series since their 2011 NBA Finals run given the favorable matchup and momentum they’d established.
