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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Goes for 42 points in win
Rotowire
Doncic racked up 42 points (13-22 FG, 7-13 3Pt, 9-11 FT), four rebounds, 12 assists and one steal over 40 minutes during Thursday's 133-126 win over Philadelphia.
Doncic was fantastic in the victory, scoring a game-high 42 points to go with 12 assists. Both he and Kyrie Irving scored at least 40 points, powering the Mavericks to a much-needed victory. To round out what was a great night, Doncic even managed to shoot 9-of-11 from the line, a welcome sight for fantasy managers who have had to ride the wave that is his free-throw shooting this season.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Dominates despite loss
Rotowire
Doncic finished Tuesday's 124-122 loss to the Pacers with 39 points (14-25 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 8-12 FT), eight rebounds, six assists and one block across 38 minutes.
Doncic had failed to reach 30 points in his previous two games. With 39 points Tuesday, Doncic still hasn't had a stretch of three games without a 30-point performance. The Pacers, who rank 24th in the NBA in defensive rating, were the perfect remedy for Doncic. The NBA's leading scorer dominated in the paint, where he made 10 of 13 shots. However, the Mavericks did not get Doncic a touch with a chance to win the game in the final 10 seconds, as Kyrie Irving took the last shot. Dallas is now 1-5 with Irving and Doncic in the lineup.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Slows down after big first quarter
Rotowire
Doncic notched 26 points (10-22 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 2-4 FT), nine rebounds, five assists and one steal across 36 minutes during Sunday's 111-108 loss to the Lakers.
Doncic had a terrific first quarter with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field to go along with six boards and three assists. After going scoreless in the second quarter, he knocked down another five of 11 shots in the second half for 12 points but added just one assist and one rebound over that stretch as the Mavericks allowed the Lakers to storm back late. The point guard finished with a team-high 26 points and knocked down four of eight attempts from beyond the arc, marking his first game this month with at least four threes.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: All-around production in blowout
Rotowire
Doncic registered 28 points (8-16 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 11-12 FT), seven rebounds, 10 assists, two blocks and two steals across 30 minutes during Thursday's 142-116 win over the Spurs.
Doncic struggled with his three-point shot during the first game after the All-Star break, but he salvaged his scoring production with efficient shooting from inside the arc and at the charity stripe. The MVP candidate has now made at least 10 free throws in three straight games and has averaged 32.7 points during that stretch. Doncic also dished out a team-high 10 assists -- his most since Jan. 14 -- and recorded multiple tallies in each defensive category in the same game for just the third time this season. Overall, it was a very solid return to action for Doncic, though his production could have been even more prolific had the Spurs kept the contest close in the fourth quarter.
