By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Resuming action with the Los Angeles Clippers visiting the American Airlines Center on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks placed Luka Doncic on the injury list.
After missing practice over the last two days, the 25-year-old Slovenian combo guard was ruled out for the meeting with the Clippers due to a left heel contusion. Kyrie Irving is among other players on the official injury list, considered questionable with right shoulder soreness. Dante Exum (right wrist surgery), Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), and Brandon Williams (right thumb sprain) are sidelined for the team coached by Jason Kidd.
The Mavs carry a 17-9 W-L tally in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, including 5-1 without Doncic. Over the remaining 20 games, the European superstar tallied 28.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks per contest.
Against the Clippers, they start a four-game homestand extending to a second straight meeting with the Clipps on the upcoming edition of NBA Saturdays, before the Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves visit on Monday and Wednesday. Depending on potential progress, it remains unclear whether Doncic will return to the lineup during this stretch.
The former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion with Real Madrid and EuroBasket champion with Slovenia is navigating his seventh NBA campaign, all with the Mavericks, since being selected with the third pick of the 2018 draft. Over the last five years, he was named an NBA All-Star and also entered the All-NBA First Team, cementing himself as the franchise player.