The Dallas Mavericks will likely continue to be without star point guard Luka Doncic in Game 2 against the Utah Jazz on Monday as he is still recovering from a left calf strain he sustained in the final game of the season, according to ESPN.
Doncic has yet to officially be ruled out of the game but he would need to make a dramatic improvement within the next 24 hours to play, per ESPN’s sources.
“Yesterday was another good day, and today he’s back on the court, so that’s a plus,” head coach Jason Kidd said on Sunday. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Reporters at Mavericks practice on Sunday showed Doncic ramping up his activity.
Without Doncic, the Mavs fell short in Game 1 at home against the Jazz, 99-93. It is the first time since 2011 that the Mavericks have a home-court advantage in the playoffs and are now in danger of falling to 0-2 before going on the road to Utah.
The Mavs are 8-10 this season without him, which includes the Game 1 loss.
“If he can’t play, we have to go forward,” Kidd said. “We showed that already in Game 1. If it happens in Game 2, then that’s the way we have to go. That’s just the way sport can be sometimes.”
The Mavericks relied heavily on Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson in Game 1, combining for 46 points and 13 assists. The Mavs will likely need to rely on them again in Game 2 if Doncic is indeed a no go.
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