Luka Doncic injury update: Mavericks ‘optimistic’ about return

The Dallas Mavericks are hopeful that star Luka Doncic will be ready to return for either Game 3 or 4 of the first-round.

The Dallas Mavericks ended the regular-season fighting for a chance to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. In the process, star Luka Doncic picked up a left calf strain that left him sidelined for Games 1 and 2 of the team’s first-round series against the Utah Jazz. But, is a return looming soon?

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, there is optimism that Doncic will be able to return for either Games 3 or 4, as the injury is improving. But, that is all dependent on how Doncic performs during practices.

Luka Doncic injury update: Mavericks ‘optimistic’ about return

Game 3 is on Thursday, Apr. 21, so there should be a clear answer as to whether Doncic will be able to return. If not, then all eyes will be on Game 4.

Even with Doncic inactive, Dallas has made both games of their first-round series competitive. In Game 1, the Mavericks kept things close with the Jazz before ultimately falling, 99-93. But in Game 2, Dallas earned a 110-104 win thanks in part to a 41-point performance by Jalen Brunson.

Getting Doncic back will be huge for the Mavericks, who look to make it past the first-round for the first time since 2011, the year the franchise won their first NBA title.

This season, Doncic averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 35.3-percent from the 3-point line.

In the playoffs, Doncic averaged 33.5 points while recording a field goal percentage of 49.4 through 13 games.