The Dallas Mavericks are hoping star Luka Doncic is ready to return for either Game 3 or 4 of the first round.
The Dallas Mavericks finished fighting the regular season for a chance to grab the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. In the process, star Luka Doncic picked up a strain in his left calf that left him aside in Game 1 and 2 of the team’s first round series against the Utah Jazz. But, is a comeback looming soon?
According to Athletic’s Shams Charania, there is optimism that Doncic will be able to return for matches 3 or 4, as the injury improves. But it all depends on how Doncic performs during practices.
Luka Doncic injury update: Mavericks ‘optimistic’ about return
Match 3 will take place on Thursday, April 21st, so there should be a clear answer as to whether Doncic will be able to make a comeback. If not, all eyes will be on Game 4.
Even with Doncic inactive, Dallas made both games of the first-round series competitive. In the first game, the Mavericks kept things close to the Jazz before they eventually fell, 99-93. But in Game 2, Dallas took a 110-104 win thanks to a 41-point performance by Galen Bronson.
Getting Doncic back would be big for the Mavericks, who are looking to get past the first round for the first time since 2011, the year the franchise won its first NBA title.
This season, Doncic has averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from the 3-point streak.
In the playoffs, Doncic averaged 33.5 points while scoring a field goal percentage of 49.4 through 13 games.
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