According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Mavericks All-NBA star Luka Doncic is expected to miss Game 1 against the Utah Jazz due to a left calf strain.
Doncic pulled the calf in the third quarter of the Mavericks’ final game vs. the San Antonio Spurs. He’s missed practice for the last three days, but has been increasing movement on the side in recent days. On Tuesday, he rode an exercise bike, and on Thursday, he ran on a treadmill instead. However, it looks like the state of Doncic’s calf on Thursday has led to pessimism on his availability for the early games of the series.
The Mavericks, though, told reporters on Thursday that Doncic wasn’t ruled out for the game.
“He’s progressing,” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd told reporters on Thursday. “He’s doing good. Didn’t practice, but is in good spirits, and had a good day.”
With Doncic looking unlikely for Game 1, his availability for Game 2 just over 48 hours later is also in question. Game 2 starts in Dallas on Monday at 6:30 p.m MT.
