Luka Doncic injury puts playoff status in doubt as Mavericks top Spurs

Luka Doncic would not have even performed in what turned out to be a meaningless regular-season finale for the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks with out a reprieve from the NBA.

The famous person was minutes away from being completed for the night time towards San Antonio when he strained his left calf. Now the Mavericks wait to see when, maybe even when, their 23-year-old All-Star will play in a first-round collection towards Utah starting Saturday.

Doncic left Dallas’ 130-120 victory Sunday night time with 2:24 remaining within the third quarter, shortly after pulling up and stopping when he turned to run to the defensive finish. He referred to as for the medical workers as he reached for the calf, and rapidly went to the locker room after play was stopped.

Coach Jason Kidd stated he deliberate to sit down Doncic the remainder of the sport after he performed the whole third quarter, which is a part of his regular rotation. He had additionally performed all the first quarter and a part of the second, additionally the norm.

Amongst a number of ominous indicators for the Mavericks was this: When he left with the harm, Doncic was main the Mavericks in factors (26), assists (9) and rebounds (eight). He nonetheless was at sport’s finish.

“Hopefully it is not too critical,” stated Kidd, who stated he hadn’t met with Doncic or the pinnacle of the membership’s medical workers, Casey Smith, earlier than speaking to reporters after the sport.

The fourth-seeded Mavericks may have moved up a spot, however wanted New Orleans to beat Golden State when the Pelicans have been sitting a number of regulars. The Warriors received 128-107.

The Spurs have been already locked in to the ultimate spot within the Western Convention play-in event because the tenth seed, set to play at ninth-seeded New Orleans on Wednesday. The winner performs the loser between No. 7 Minnesota and the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.

“I can not wait,” stated Keldon Johnson, who led the Spurs with 24 factors. “I really feel prefer it’s time for us to show some stuff. I really feel like all people’s received that mindset, and everyone knows we are able to do it so long as we do it collectively.”

Doncic would have been serving a one-game suspension towards the Spurs if the NBA hadn’t rescinded his sixteenth technical foul, assessed two nights earlier when he complained to officers a couple of non-call in a blowout victory over Portland.

With the league’s third-leading scorer cleared to play, Kidd stated earlier than the sport his membership was treating it as “the final gown rehearsal earlier than the true season begins.”

Now Kidd must take care of questions on why Doncic was on the court docket with the Pelicans trailing by double digits in New Orleans and having no incentive to rally.

“We weren’t taking part in the New Orleans rating,” Kidd stated. “We have been simply making an attempt to get higher with the lengthy layoff.”

Dorian Finney-Smith scored all of his 16 factors within the third quarter, when Dallas broke a 59-59 halftime tie by outscoring San Antonio 38-23. The Mavericks held on within the fourth quarter with a lineup stuffed by gamers not within the rotation.

The Mavericks received all 4 video games towards San Antonio, sweeping the season collection from their Texas rivals for the primary time.

TIP-INS

Spurs: G Lonnie Walker IV sat with decrease again tightness an evening after main the Spurs with 24 factors in a loss to Golden State. … Dejounte Murray scored 17 factors after lacking the earlier 5 video games with a non-COVID-19 sickness. … Josh Richardson scored 18 factors towards his former workforce. … Jakob Poeltl had 12 factors and 10 rebounds.

Mavericks: C Dwight Powell set a membership document with 18 consecutive photographs revamped 4 video games. Coming into the season, Powell shared the earlier document of 14 with DeAndre Jordan and Erick Dampier. He broke the document together with his first bucket earlier than the run ended on his fifth try when he could not convert an alley-oop go from Jalen Brunson. He completed 5 of 6 and scored 12 factors. … F Maxi Kleber missed his fourth consecutive sport with proper ankle soreness, however Kidd stated he could be prepared for the playoffs.

IT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME

Earlier than the sport, Kidd mentioned with reporters how he would possibly attempt to assist Doncic handle his points with technicals. Kidd was underneath the impression gamers get six techs earlier than a suspension within the playoffs. After being knowledgeable it was truly seven, Kidd stated, “I’m telling him six.”