Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Sniffs triple-double in opener
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Doncic totaled 28 points (9-25 FG, 4-11 3Pt, 6-8 FT), 10 rebounds, eight assists, one block and one steal across 36 minutes during Thursday's 120-109 victory over the Spurs.
Doncic didn't have his best shooting performance, but that won't matter much as long as he can put up numbers like these on a game-to-game basis. The star guard made a couple of highlight plays throughout the night, including a no-look pass for a P.J. Washington corner three in the third quarter. Doncic showed he's ready to pick things up right where he left them in 2023-24.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Cleared for Thursday
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Doncic (calf) said he's ready to play Thursday against the Spurs, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Doncic missed the entire preseason with a left calf contusion, but the injury was always considered minor. Doncic added that his calf feels "perfect," so fantasy managers shouldn't expect any restrictions on Opening Night.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Full participant in practice Friday
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Doncic (calf) was a full participant in Friday's practice ahead of Dallas' regular-season opener against the Spurs next Thursday, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.
Doncic missed the squad's preseason finale due to a left calf bruise, though he is expected to be fully ready by the start of the regular season. The superstar has been ramping up during practice throughout the preseason and is expected to receive his normal workload next Thursday.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Officially out Thursday
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Doncic (calf) won't play in Thursday's preseason game versus the Bucks, NBA writer Marc Stein reports.
Despite returning to practice Wednesday, Doncic will sit out Dallas' preseason finale due to a left calf bruise. However, the star guard should be able to suit up for the team's regular-season opener against San Antonio on Oct. 24.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Ramping up
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Doncic (calf) practiced fully Wednesday, but coach Jason Kidd said the point guard will most likely "not participate" in Thursday's preseason contest against Milwaukee, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Doncic logging a full practice Wednesday is a significant milestone with Opening Night against San Antonio being eight days away. The 25-year-old's left calf bruise will continue to be cautiously managed, however, making it unlikely he will suit up for Dallas' final preseason game. His availability for the start of the regular season has never been in serious doubt, and that remains the case.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Out against Los Angeles
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Doncic (calf) will not play in Monday's preseason game against the Clippers, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.
Doncic returned to non-contact practice Saturday and took part in a lengthy workout following Monday's morning shootaround. His status for Thursday's preseason finale against the Bucks has yet to be determined, but it's safe to assume Doncic is on track for Opening Night against the Spurs on Oct. 24.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Returns to practice
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Doncic (calf) participated in non-contact practice Saturday, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Although Doncic returned to practice Saturday, he isn't expected to suit up for Monday's preseason matchup with the Clippers. However, the superstar guard is expected to be ready to go for the regular season.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Remains out Monday
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Doncic (calf) won't play in Monday's preseason game versus the Clippers, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.
Doncic will miss his third straight preseason game due to a left calf injury. However, the superstar guard participated in 1-on-1 drills during Friday's practice and isn't expected to miss any regular-season action.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Won't play vs. Utah
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Doncic (calf) won't play in Thursday's preseason game against the Jazz, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.
Doncic already missed the preseason opener against the Grizzlies, and the Mavericks are being extremely cautious with his injury. His next chance to play will come against the Clippers on Monday, though the Mavs only have two preseason tune-ups left before their regular-season opener against the Spurs on Oct. 24.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Will miss preseason opener
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Doncic (calf) has been ruled out for Monday's preseason opener against the Grizzlies, NBA writer Marc Stein reports.
Doncic took an inadvertent kick to his left calf during Sunday's private workout and underwent an MRI on Tuesday after experiencing tightness during Monday's first training camp practice. The MVP candidate will likely miss more than one exhibition and could be sidelined for the entire preseason schedule. However, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com, Doncic is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against the Spurs on Oct. 24.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Dealing with calf contusion
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Doncic suffered a left calf contusion during Wednesday's practice and will be re-evaluated in one week.
Doncic dealt with ankle, knee and chest injuries during the Mavericks' playoff run last season but didn't miss any games and was active during the summer, playing for the Slovenia national team during an Olympic qualifying tournament. It's concerning to see the MVP candidate already dealing with another injury, but there's no indication he's in danger of missing the start of the regular season.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Ramping up ahead of camp
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Doncic is ramping up his workload ahead of training camp and has been practicing with the club Ilirija in Slovenia, the DLLS Mavs Podcast reports.
Doncic had a busy offseason while preparing for the 2024-25 season. The All-Star appeared in three outings for Slovenia during the qualifying round of the Paris Olympics, totaling 83 points, 29 rebounds and 25 assists in that span. After failing to qualify for the Olympics, Doncic spent time practicing with Ilirija in Slovenia, and he is fully ready for training camp after a short offseason. The perennial MVP candidate averaged a career-high 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds across 37.5 minutes per game in 70 regular-season outings last year.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Won't play in Paris Olympics
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Doncic posted 21 points (7-14 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 2-6 FT), seven rebounds, five assists and one steal across 34 minutes for the Slovenian national team Saturday in a 96-68 loss to Greece in the semifinal round of an Olympic qualifying tournament.
With the loss, Slovenia is officially eliminated for a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Despite a quick turnaround for the qualifying tournament following the Mavericks' deep playoff run that ended with a five-game series loss to the Celtics in the NBA Finals, Doncic proceeded to suit up in all three games for Slovenia this summer, totaling 83 points, 29 rebounds and 25 assists. Though Slovenia's elimination from the Paris Games is surely disappointing on a personal level for Doncic, he'll at least benefit from a much-needed extended rest before the Mavericks reconvene for training camp in the fall.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Trible-double in loss to Croatia
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Doncic posted 26 points (8-23 FG, 0-9 3Pt, 10-11 FT), 11 rebounds, 10 assists and one steal across 37 minutes in Slovenia's 108-92 loss to Croatia on Tuesday.
Doncic is known for his ability to do it all on a nightly basis. The All-Star accumulated 21 triple-doubles in the 2023-24 regular-season, and he has become a walking triple-double with the Mavericks throughout his six-year career. Doncic was a top MVP candidate last season, during which he averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, 9.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 70 regular-season appearances. However, he shot just 0-for-9 from deep against Croatia, an issue he also had in the NBA Finals against Boston when he shot just 24.4 percent from three in five games.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Expected to play in exhibition
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Doncic (ankle/knee/chest) is expected to play in Slovenia's exhibition against Brazil on Friday, Grant Afseth of SI.com reports.
Slovenia's roster hasn't been finalized, so Doncic's availability hasn't been confirmed. However, the NBA superstar is expected to play after sitting out a match against Lithuania on Tuesday. Friday's game is Slovenia's final preparation before the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Greece, which starts July 2. Doncic dealt with multiple injuries during Dallas' run to the NBA Finals, so Slovenia is expected to monitor his workload during the Olympics.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Leads all scorers in Finals series
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Doncic ended Monday's 106-88 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals with 28 points (12-25 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 2-5 FT), 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals across 43 minutes.
Despite losing the series 4-1, Doncic was spectacular for the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. The five-time All-Star dealt with a litany of injuries throughout the playoffs, including a thoracic contusion, a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness, but still led all players in scoring in the Finals. Across five NBA Finals games, Doncic averaged 29.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.6 steals while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. The 25-year-old did struggle from deep, shooting only 24.4 percent, and he was also seen as a defensive liability at times. However, Doncic and the Mavericks will look to build off their strong season and run it back next year, as he now has NBA Finals experience under his belt.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Gets green light for Game 5
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Doncic (thoracic contusion) is available for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Celtics.
Doncic is dealing with a thoracic contusion, but he has been upgraded from probable to available ahead of Monday's Game 5. The All-Star will lead the Mavericks into Boston as Dallas looks to cut the series deficit to 3-2 and come back from down 3-0, a feat that has never been accomplished in NBA Finals history. Doncic has been solid throughout the series, averaging 29.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.5 steals across 37.8 minutes while shooting 47.0 percent from the field.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Probable ahead of Game 5
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Doncic (thoracic contusion) is listed as probable for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Celtics.
Doncic has been a mainstay on the injury report in the playoffs, but with the Mavericks' NBA Finals hopes in jeopardy, his status seems to be nothing more than precautionary. Through four NBA Finals games, the All-Star is averaging 29.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.5 steals across 37.8 minutes. Doncic has struggled from deep, shooting just 25.0 percent from three. However, he is still shooting an efficient 47.0 percent from the field this series.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Scores 29 despite shooting woes
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Doncic accumulated 29 points (12-26 FG, 0-8 3Pt, 5-7 FT), five rebounds, five assists and three steals over 33 minutes during Friday's 122-84 win over Boston in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Doncic had another rough showing from a shooting perspective, needing 26 shots to score 29 points and missing all eight of his three-point attempts, but he still led Dallas in scoring as the Mavericks kept themselves alive for at least one more game. Doncic has surpassed the 25-point mark in 11 consecutive games during the current playoff run and is expected to play a prominent role for the Mavericks in Game 5 of the series Monday, as he'll probably have to lead the team again if the Mavericks are to pull off an upset at TD Garden.
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Mavericks' Luka Doncic: Set to play Friday
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Doncic (thoracic contusion) is available for Friday's Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Celtics.
Doncic has been upgraded from probable to available Friday despite dealing with a thoracic contusion. The superstar guard is averaging 29.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.3 steals in 39.3 minutes across the first three games of the NBA Finals.
