Doncic to sit Friday against Lakers with left thigh strain

SANTA MONICA — Dallas Mavericks guards Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. all went through the team’s practice session on Thursday at Saint Monica Preparatory.

However, Doncic will miss his fourth straight game Friday in a pivotal contest against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena with a left thigh strain. Meanwhile, Irving (right foot soreness), Hardaway (left calf contusion), JaVale McGee (right ankle sprain) and Markieff Morris (left knee soreness) are all questionable for the game against the Lakers.

“They did everything today – (Doncic) and Kai and Timmy,” coach Jason Kidd said. “They’re day-to-day.”

The Mavs are 35-35 and in eighth place in the Western Conference standings – one game ahead of the 10^th-place Lakers (34-36). A Mavs’ win on Friday would clinch the season series over the Lakers – just in case these two teams end the regular season with identical records.

This season the Mavs are 2-1 against the Lakers, and the two wins were gained largely on the shoulders of Doncic.

The fifth-year playmaker manufactured 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and was 12-of-16 from the field in leading the Mavs to a 124-115 victory over the Lakers on Christmas at American Airlines Center. Also in that game, Christian Wood poured in 30 points, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out seven assists, picked up four steals and blocked two shots.

On Jan. 12 in Los Angeles, Doncic produced a 35-14-13 triple-double in guiding the Mavs to a 119-115 double-overtime win over the Lakers. Wood also was spectacular in that game with 24 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and five blocked shots, and Hardaway collected 22 points and eight rebounds.

The Lakers’ lone victory in the series came Feb. 26 in Dallas when they eked out a 111-108 victory despite 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists from Doncic, and 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists from Irving.

Asked if Thursday was the first time both Doncic and Irving practiced together since their injuries, Kidd said: “They’ve done some work together in a sense of with the team. I wouldn’t say they did full court stuff, but they did the half court stuff.”

GREEN/HARDY ON A ROLL: Rookie guard Jaden Hardy and third-year guard Josh Green have set the nets on fire recently.

Over the last three games, Hardy scored 22 points last Saturday in Memphis, 28 points against the Grizzlies in Dallas on Monday, and 22 points against the San Antonio Spurs this past Wednesday. In those same games, Green tallied 21 and 23 points, respectively, against the Grizzlies and 21 points against the Spurs.

Thus, the 20-year old Hardy and 22-year old Green became the first pair of Mavs players under 23 years old to have a three-game concurrent scoring streak of 20 or more points.

“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” Green said, referring to the three consecutive games where he’s scored at least 20 points. “I’m just playing. I’m just trying to win at the end of the day.”

As far as Hardy’s 20-point scoring spree goes, Green said: “I think it speaks to not only Jaden’s hard work, but also the work that the coaches and the player development staff put into both of us.

“We’re grateful for the opportunities that they’ve given us the last couple of games, and I’m really happy for Jaden.”

Twitter: @DwainPrice