Dallas Mavericks Upgrade Luka Doncic To Questionable For Game 3 Of Their Playoff Series With Utah Jazz

All eyes remain squarely focused on Luka Doncic’s strained left calf. Now, there is some hope, at least among the Dallas Mavericks and their fans, that the injured star could return to action sooner rather than later.

Wednesday afternoon, Dallas officially upgraded his status from doubtful to questionable for Game 3 of their series with the Utah Jazz. Still, the team and Doncic are not saying when he will step onto the court for the first time this postseason.

“I’ve been doing more on-court stuff,” Doncic said Wednesday. “I’m feeling pretty good. Just seeing how it feels.”

Doncic sustained the injury in the final game of the regular season. He has been rehabbing and working with trainers since the following day when an MRI confirmed its severity.

This week, Doncic began ramping up his on-court activities, working on drills and playing some one-on-one. He says he is feeling better, but he’s still taking a day-to-day approach to his recovery.

“Today and yesterday, I did a little bit,” Doncic said. “We shouldn’t rush anything, but step-by-step, I think I’m improving a lot and I’m getting ready.”

For his part, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is taking a similar wait-and-see approach to Doncic’s recovery. In the days leading up to the playoffs and since then, he has repeatedly said that the team’s medical staff has the final say.

“He’s looked great through the process of rehabbing,” Kidd said. “Again, this is just another step. So now, we’ll see how he does. Tomorrow we’ll get ready for shootaround and see how he feels.”

Dallas is in Salt Lake City for Games 3 and 4 of their best-of-seven series with Utah. The Mavericks won Game 2, led by career performances from Jalen Brunson and Maxi Kleber, knotting up the series at one game apiece.

If Doncic can suit up and play in either of the next two games, it could swing the dynamic of the series. And he is itching to get back on the court.

For Doncic, the hardest part of his rehabilitation hasn’t been the work he’s putting in to get healthy. Rather, it’s not being able to play.

“Just sitting out, watching the games, it’s way more stressful than playing the game,” Doncic said. “I don’t know how, but it is. I just miss basketball. I know it’s only been two games, but I miss it so much.”

In his absence, Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie have borne the brunt of the ball-handling duties. Brunson erupted for 41 points in Game 2. Meanwhile, Dinwiddie, who has criticized his lack of efficiency, is averaging 19 points and seven assists through two games.

“I thought they’ve done a great job in the first two games,” Kidd said. “Offensively, they’ve done a really good job of running the team, being able to execute the game plan. I think those two have done a good job and we’re going to need them, with Luka or without Luka, to continue playing at the level that they’re playing at.”

While Brunson and Dinwiddie have proven themselves capable, getting Doncic back will be a boon for the team. He has career postseason averages of 33.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 9.5 assists.

When he can play, Doncic is unlikely to be back to normal. He readily admits that. Still, a slightly hobbled All-Star is better than no All-Star at all.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be 100%,” Doncic said. “I think that’s tough right now. But if I’m ready and there’s no risk of injury I’ll be out there.”