The NBA playoffs are set to begin this weekend but a number of key players are doubtful to play in the first round. One of these players is Dallas Mavericks star guard Luka Dončić, who suffered a left calf strain in the team’s final game of the regular season.
It could not have come at a worse time for the Mavericks, as they will take on the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs starting on Saturday. The Mavericks had decided that Luka had no timetable for his return, which certainly did not sound encouraging.
NBA insider Shams Charania gave us an update on Dončić on Thursday and it’s not any better news for the Mavericks. Dončić is expected to miss game one on Saturday against the Jazz.
Mavericks star Luka Doncic is expected to miss Game 1 vs. Jazz on Saturday night due to strained calf, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
The latest regarding Doncic: https://t.co/bEFYKs2gmk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2022
This news has many around the NBA world suddenly not liking the team’s chances to get out of their first-round matchup.
Terrible news. Doncic has second-highest usage rate in NBA behind Embiid. Mavs also 8-9 w/out Luka this year but seven of wins against non-playoff teams: Houston (twice), OKC, Portland, Sacramento (twice), Charlotte https://t.co/6YX83eTH9B
— Bill Reiter (@sportsreiter) April 14, 2022
Yeah, I think we have go forward with the assumption Utah wins this series. https://t.co/pCDdgRiAUh
— Jackson Lloyd (@JacksonLloydNBA) April 14, 2022
Please don’t talk to me for the next 5-7 business days, thank you. https://t.co/zPmnvuherz
— Henry Patton (@Henry_Patton23) April 14, 2022
What a break for Utah https://t.co/TEswMk9jZI
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) April 14, 2022
It can not be understated how important Luka has been to the Mavericks’ success this season. He has been excellent when on the court, averaging 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game.
While it is obviously not ideal that Dončić will most likely miss game one, it’s encouraging that he has not been ruled out for the entire series yet, given how severe a strained calf can be in some instances.
Still, the Mavericks will need role players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson to step up in a big way if they want to get past the gritty Jazz team.
