Mavericks fans everywhere could breathe a sigh of relief when word leaked out Thursday that the MRI exam on the left thigh of Luka Dončić came back clean, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
So it appears that, when his discomfort level allows, the Mavericks’ superstar point guard will be able to play without complications.
That’s obviously sensational news after Dončić left Wednesday’s game at New Orleans because of the pain in his thigh. He clearly was favoring the left leg upon his exit.
Afterward, Doncic said his leg was “not good” when asked how he was feeling.
“The first quarter wasn’t that bad,” he said. “And then it got way worse, especially in the third. I was trying to play through it but it got worse as the game went along.”
The left thigh had been bothering Dončić for the last five games. He said he woke up after a game early in the six-game homestand and it wasn’t feeling right.
Missing time is never a good thing, but if the Mavericks have to forge on without Luka, it will open up opportunities for others. Last year, when he sat out the first three games of the playoffs against Utah, Jalen Brunson stepped up and the Mavericks won two of the three.
The Mavericks are in the midst of a two-day break before they play at Memphis on Saturday night.
Though Dončić takes plenty of hits during the course of the season, he has been extremely durable. He’s only missed 10 games this season and several of those were rest situations. The only time he’s missed multiple games in a row was for a foot problem just before the All-Star break.
With the playoffs looming in a month, a period of rest might not be the worst thing for Dončić, although he never likes to sit out.
Hardaway’s moment brings back memories: In a tight game against Atlanta during Jason Kidd’s playing days with the Mavericks, he saw Hawks’ coach Mike Woodson a few steps onto the court and made a beeline with the ball toward him.
As Kidd later explained, he wasn’t sure what it was, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t a legal move for a coach.
A technical foul on Woodson helped the Mavericks win that game.
On Tuesday night, another player-coach situation happened when Tim Hardaway Jr. made a three-pointer, was backpedaling to the defensive end and stepped on Utah coach Will Hardy’s foot.
After writhing in pain, Hardaway had the foot taped up and returned to the game. And he was able to play Wednesday against New Orleans – and play very well.
“That was just a freak accident,” Kidd said. “The coach wasn’t trying to do anything. A lot of times, we’re just a little slow to react.
“I’m just happy that Timmy’s OK and he can go (Wednesday against New Orleans) because to have him and Reggie (Bullock) out would be tough.”
Hardaway has been sizzling from three-point range since the All-Star break and that didn’t change Wednesday, when he hit 5-of-12 from beyond the arc to help fuel the Mavericks’ comeback against New Orleans.
It reminded Kidd — as if he really needed a reminder — that Hardaway has to be a major weapon at times like this.
“When he gets into these stretches, we have to get him the ball,” Kidd said. “When you look at the group out there finding him, he’s knocking them down. He can’t go stretches without getting the ball. But sometimes, with Luka (Doncic) and (Kyrie Irving) out there, you just have to be patient. It’s a great problem to have.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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