Luka Doncic’s ankle injury is a bit of a surprise, but that didn’t stop the Dallas Mavericks from beating the Suns 108-105. In fact, the Mavericks had to play without their star rookie a majority of the game.
Dallas Mavericks star sprains left ankle in Dallas Mavericks game
Luka Doncic left the Dallas Mavericks’ game against the Phoenix Suns with an ankle sprain. He is expected to miss the remainder of the game. The Dallas Mavericks were already without Christian Wood and Maxi Kleber, so the loss of Doncic would be a big blow.
It is also unclear how severe the injury is. Doncic has suffered ankle injuries in the past. In one game, he stepped on a player’s foot while pivoting, but he did not return to the game.
X-rays on Doncic’s ankle are negative. The Mavericks were planning to rest him in order to give him time to heal.
Coach Jason Kidd called a timeout and removed Doncic from the game. After taking a few steps off the court, Doncic hobbled to the locker room.
Mavericks beat Suns despite losing Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks beat Phoenix Suns despite losing star point guard Luka Doncic to a sprained left ankle. Doncic was selected as an All-Star for the fourth straight season. He is the league’s top scorer with 33.8 points per game.
After the first quarter, Doncic sat out with his ankle. His left foot got tangled with defender Mikal Bridges’ foot, and he immediately started limping. The Mavericks called a timeout to get him out of the game. X-rays on Doncic’s ankle were negative.
After the injury, Spencer Dinwiddie replaced Doncic. Dinwiddie scored 36 points and grabbed six rebounds in 40 minutes. He shot 10 of 18 from the floor and 5 of 6 from three-point range.
Deandre Ayton had a strange game, putting up 19 points and securing 20 rebounds. But he also had multiple lapses in focus. He missed a layup against the Mavericks’ defense and an alley-oop. Moreover, he finished with two blocks and negative plus/minus over 31 minutes.
Doncic’s shooting percentage is down from 47.9 percent in 2020-21
It’s hard to believe that Luka Doncic’s shooting percentage will dip down to 47.9 percent next season, but the young phenom has been taking more threes than ever. He’s now shooting 23.1 percent from deep, compared to 30 percent in his first two seasons.
But there’s more to his game than just hitting the three. In his last seven games, he’s averaging 35.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 10.3 assists.
The Mavericks have won four straight games and are currently sixth in the Western Conference. That’s thanks in large part to Doncic’s mid-range shooting, which bodes well for his future in the postseason.
He’s the leader in scoring and assists, leading the NBA in both categories. His efficiency is career-high, averaging a 37.4 percent usage rate, the highest in the league.
Houston Rockets are without Eric Gordon, Jae’Sean Tate and Kevin Porter
Houston Rockets will play Dallas Mavericks at home on December 23, but there is a good chance they will be without the trio of Eric Gordon, Jae’Sean Tate and Kevin Porter. Luka Doncic has been voted as an All-Star for the fourth straight season, but he will sit out this game as well due to an ankle injury.
In their previous meeting, the Rockets won 101-92. This time, they will be shorthanded and need to win in order to avoid a four-game losing streak. They have been held under 30 points for two straight games. The over/under for the matchup is 29.5.
The Rockets were missing three key ball handlers, so expect Doncic to come off the bench a lot. He has averaged 9.1 rebounds and 8.6 assists in his last five games, and has scored in double-digits in three of his last four games.
Christian Wood (fractured left thumb) will remain on the shelf
Christian Wood will miss at least one more week with a fractured left thumb. He suffered the injury during Wednesday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Mavericks will be without their second-leading scorer and rebounder for a while. However, Wood is expected to return soon.
Wood is Dallas’ best defensive player, averaging 2.3 blocks per game. His contract expires at the end of the season, making him a likely trade target. This injury comes at a critical time for the franchise’s future.
A re-evaluation is expected next week. If the team decides to bring him back, he could be out for several more games.
Despite losing three straight, the Mavericks are still fifth in the Western Conference, with a 24-22 record. However, the Mavericks are 8.5 games behind first place Denver Nuggets.
