Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was ruled out for Saturday’s game against the host Utah Jazz after spraining his left ankle Thursday night.
Multiple outlets reported earlier in the day that Doncic was considered day-to-day after being injured during Thursday’s 99-95 victory against the Phoenix Suns.
The 23-year-old guard, the NBA’s second-leading scorer with 33.0 points per game, limped to the locker room early in the first quarter and did not return. He was named an All-Star starter prior to Thursday’s game.
Dallas (26-24) has 10 games remaining before next month’s All-Star break.
Doncic has not missed a game due to injury yet this season. He has sat out five games on the second night of back-to-backs for rest, with the Mavs losing all five contests.
“It ain’t no cause for where we’re like, ‘Oh no, we’re about to go on a 10-game stretch without LD,’ ” said teammate Spencer Dinwiddie after scoring 36 points in the 99-95 win at Phoenix. “He’s going to heal up nicely. He’s a young kid. Although he likes to think he’s old, he’s not.”
An All-Star for the fourth straight season, Doncic is also averaging 8.9 points and 8.4 assists with 10 triple-doubles in 45 starts in 2022-23.
The Mavericks also said Maxi Kleber (hamstring tear) and Christian Wood (left thumb fracture) would miss Saturday’s game at Utah. Kleber has been out since mid-December.
–Field Level Media
