Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Puts up 25 points in 28 minutes
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Doncic registered 25 points (8-17 FG, 4-10 3Pt, 5-5 FT), seven rebounds, six assists and one steal across 28 minutes during Monday's 127-104 victory over the Pacers.
After the NBA rescinded the 16th technical foul of the season that Doncic picked up in Sunday's loss to the Hornets, the star point guard was cleared to play Monday rather than serving an automatic one-game suspension. Thanks to the blowout, head coach Jason Kidd was able to manage Doncic's minutes on the second leg of the back-to-back set, though Doncic still came through with a serviceable line despite handling less playing time than usual. Doncic's next technical foul will still trigger a one-game suspension, so he'll have to tread lightly with the officials over the next two weeks to avoid any missed time during a critical juncture of the season for the Mavericks, who currently sit a half game behind the Lakers and Thunder for the final two spots in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Won't face suspension Monday
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Doncic won't be suspended for Monday's game against the Pacers after the league rescinded his 16th technical foul.
Doncic was issued a technical foul during Sunday's loss to the Hornets, but he'll be available for the second half of the back-to-back set after the league reversed the call. However, the Mavericks still have seven regular-season games remaining, and it's possible he'll be unavailable for one of those matchups if he's called for a technical foul in any of those games. Doncic has been on a tear since returning from a five-game absence, averaging 34.7 points, 11.0 assists and 9.7 rebounds in 39.3 minutes per game over his last three appearances.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Facing one-game suspension
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Doncic finished Sunday's loss to the Hornets with 40 points (12-29 FG, 7-16 3Pt, 9-10 FT), 12 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, two blocks and four turnovers in 40 minutes. He was also whistled for his 16th technical foul of the season, which triggers an automatic one-game suspension.
While Doncic had a fantastic statistical game, the Mavericks fell to the Hornets for the second time in three days and are now on the outside looking in for a spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament. Unless the NBA rescinds Doncic's 16th technical -- a rather unlikely scenario -- he'll be suspended for Monday's game at Indiana. Assuming that's the case, Doncic will still be eligible to play in three games next week, beginning with Wednesday's matchup with the 76ers in Philadelphia. After that, Dallas plays at Miami and at Atlanta in a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back set.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Sniffs triple-double in loss
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Doncic ended Friday's 117-109 loss to the Hornets with 34 points (12-23 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 8-10 FT), 10 rebounds, eight assists and one block over 37 minutes.
Doncic led the Mavericks once again, but he can't do everything on his own, and Dallas suffered another surprising loss despite the star guard finishing just two assists away from a triple-double. Despite the team's struggles, Doncic has been sensational in recent weeks. He's averaging 30.7 points, 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds across six March outings.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Comes up short in return
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Doncic (thigh) closed with 30 points (11-27 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 6-10 FT), 17 assists, seven rebounds and one steal in 41 minutes during Wednesday's 127-125 loss to the Warriors.
Doncic missed his team's last five matchups while dealing with a left thigh strain, but it was clear he wasn't on any type of restriction Wednesday. He poured in a game-high scoring total -- albeit on poor shooting from the field and free-throw line -- and dominated as a facilitator while backcourt mate Kyrie Irving (foot) was sidelined, setting a new season high in assists. With a big workload already under his plate in his first game back, Doncic looks poised for a big finish to the season, as the 36-37 Mavericks can't afford to rest key players while they look to secure a spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Ready to roll Wednesday
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Doncic (thigh) is officially available for Wednesday's game versus the Warriors.
Doncic was upgraded from questionable to probable on game day, foreshadowing his return to the lineup following a five-game absence. Doncic will presumably retake his starting spot on the ball upon his return, replacing Kyrie Irving (foot), who will miss the contest. Per Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News, head coach Jason Kidd suggested 40 minutes is the cap for Doncic, so there seems to be minimal restrictions for the superstar Wednesday.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Upgraded to probable
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Doncic (thigh) has been upgraded to probable for Wednesday's game against the Warriors.
Doncic has missed the last five games due to a left thigh strain but is trending toward returning for Wednesday's matchup. He may face a minutes restriction if cleared to suit up, but he should still play a prominent role. Jaden Hardy should see a decrease in playing time if both Doncic and Kyrie Irving (foot) are available.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Listed as questionable
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Doncic (thigh) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Warriors.
Doncic has missed five consecutive games due to a left thigh strain and may be sidelined for a sixth straight. He also drew a questionable tag ahead of Monday's loss to Memphis before being downgraded to out, so Doncic's designation for Wednesday doesn't offer any fresh insight on his status. Kyrie Irving is also questionable after tweaking his right foot in Monday's loss, so if both superstars are out again, Jaden Hardy and Josh Green would presumably garner increased usage.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Ruled out Monday
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Doncic (thigh) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Grizzlies.
Although Doncic was questionable for Monday's matchup, his usage during the team's shootaround suggested that he'd be unavailable against Memphis, and he'll officially miss a fifth consecutive game. Jaden Hardy and Josh Green should continue to see increased run Monday, but their workload will depend on whether Kyrie Irving (foot) is cleared to play.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Status murky after shootaround
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Doncic (thigh) is officially listed as questionable for Monday's game against Memphis, but per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com, "there wasn't much optimism" about the point guard's availability following Dallas' morning shootaround.
There's certainly nothing final about Doncic's availability yet, but it sounds like he was pretty limited during shootaround. The MVP candidate has already missed four straight games due to the thigh injury, so if he's sidelined again, Jaden Hardy and Josh Green figure to remain the primary beneficiaries, though both players' usage could take a hit if Kyrie Irving (foot) and/or Doncic are cleared to suit up.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Questionable Monday
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Doncic (thigh) is questionable for Monday's game against Memphis.
Doncic has missed the last four games due to his thigh injury, but he's made positive strides recently since he fully practiced Thursday. However, it's not yet clear whether he'll be available for Monday's matchup. If the 24-year-old remains out, the Mavericks' backcourt rotation will depend on whether Kyrie Irving (foot) is available.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Still out Friday
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Doncic (thigh) will not play in Friday's game against the Lakers despite logging a full practice Thursday.
Doncic being ruled out on the Mavericks' initial injury report comes as a bit of a surprise considering he managed to take part in Thursday's practice. However, with a couple of days off before the Mavericks' next game, Dallas could just be playing it safe with the superstar guard. With Kyrie Irving (foot) questionable, the backcourt could once again be left to Jaden Hardy, Frank Ntilikina and McKinley Wright. Doncic's next chance to play will come Monday against Memphis.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Practices in full Thursday
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Doncic (thigh) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, and his status for Friday's game against the Lakers is to be determined, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com reports.
Both Doncic and Kyrie Irving (foot) fully participated in Thursday's practice, so there's a good chance they'll return Friday. If that's the case, Jaden Hardy and Josh Green will have their roles reduced back to normal while the two elite playmakers take over their duties. Doncic has missed three straight games due to a strained left thigh.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Out again Wednesday
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Doncic (thigh) will remain on the sidelines for Wednesday's game in San Antonio.
Wednesday will be the third straight game on the sidelines for Doncic, and with Kyrie Irving (foot), Christian Wood (foot) and Tim Hardaway (calf) all questionable, it could again be the Jaden Hardy show Wednesday. Doncic's next opportunity to play will come Friday against the Lakers, but it's not a great sign that he's still getting ruled out a full 24 hours in advance of tip-off.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Still out Monday
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Doncic (thigh) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Grizzlies.
Doncic is considered day-to-day after sustaining a left thigh injury Wednesday against the Pelicans, but he'll be unavailable for a second consecutive game. Tim Hardaway and Jaden Hardy saw increased run in his absence Saturday and will likely continue to have larger roles during Monday's rematch against Memphis, especially if Kyrie Irving (foot) remains out. Doncic's next chance to return will be Wednesday against the Spurs.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Ruled out against Memphis
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Doncic won't play in Saturday's game versus the Grizzlies due to a left thigh strain and is day-to-day moving forward, Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Doncic reportedly avoided a serious injury but won't play Saturday due to a left thigh strain he suffered against New Orleans. Tim Hardaway, Frank Ntilikina and Justin Holiday are candidates to receive increased roles in his absence. Doncic's next chance to suit up is Monday's rematch with the Grizzlies.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Unlikely to miss significant time
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Doncic (thigh) underwent an MRI on Thursday that returned clean, and he's expected to return to action "as soon as discomfort allows him," Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief, as Doncic appears to have avoided a serious injury to his left thigh after exiting in the third quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Pelicans. The superstar guard said after the game that the thigh had been bothering him since the Mavericks' second game coming out of the All-Star break, so the team could exercise some degree of caution, though Dallas needs to start racking up wins to avoid Play-In Tournament territory in the Western Conference. The Mavericks should provide an updated injury report no later than Friday, when Doncic's availability for Saturday's matchup with Memphis will be determined.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Set to receive MRI on Thursday
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Doncic will undergo an MRI on Thursday after exiting Wednesday's 113-106 loss to the Pelicans in the third quarter due to a left thigh strain, Andrew Lopez of ESPN.com reports. He finished the game with 15 points (4-14 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 6-8 FT), eight assists, three rebounds and one steal in 28 minutes.
Doncic looked to be in pain throughout the game and noted in his post-game press conference that his thigh injury -- which he said had been bothering him since the second game out of the All-Star break -- is "not good." He'll get further imaging Thursday and hopefully glean a clearer idea on the severity of the issue, but fantasy managers should brace for the possibility that he misses Saturday's game in Memphis and possibly some additional contests to follow. A potential Doncic absence would afford Kyrie Irving to see more time on the ball while serving as Dallas' top playmaker, and supporting players like Tim Hardaway, Christian Wood, Josh Green and Jaden Hardy would also be in line for more responsibilities on the offensive end.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Exits with thigh injury
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Doncic has been ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday's game against the Pelicans with a strained left thigh.
It appeared Doncic had been playing through discomfort Wednesday before being sent to the locker room late in the third period. He will finish the contest with 15 points (4-14 FG), eight assists and three rebounds in 28 minutes of action. For the rest of the game, Kyrie Irving will see a bump in usage while Frank Ntilikina could see a few more minutes. Doncic will have a couple of days to rest before the Mavericks take on the Grizzlies in Memphis on Saturday.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Hits for 34 against Phoenix
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Doncic posted 34 points (8-23 FG, 1-9 3Pt, 17-19 FT), nine rebounds and four assists over 35 minutes during Sunday's 130-126 loss to the Suns.
The superstar talents of both teams were on full display as Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker all scored 30 or more points, but the Dallas duo came up a little short. Since returning from a heel injury in mid-February, Doncic has topped 30 points in five of eight games, averaging 33.3 points, 7.8 boards, 7.1 assists, 2.9 threes and 1.1 steals over that stretch as the Mavericks try to climb out of the play-in zone and lock up a playoff spot.
