Luka Doncic, one of the rising young superstars in the NBA and a key to practically everything that makes the Dallas Mavericks go, suffered a right ankle sprain less than two minutes into tonight’s game against the Miami Heat.
Doncic had the ball and was driving from the left side of the paint to the right side when he suddenly pulled up lame and hopped off the court to the left of the basket support. On the play itself, Doncic stepped on the foot of Heat guard Kendrick Nunn.
X-rays were negative and Doncic is questionable to return to Saturday’s game.
Doncic entered the game with eight triple-doubles and averaging 30.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game and is considered a top candidate to capture this season’s Most Valuable Player award. He also had gone 20 straight games with scoring at least 20 points, grabbing at least five rebounds and handing out at least five assists.
That’s the most by any player since the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, breaking the previous record of 19 held by Michael Jordan.
The Mavs came into the game with the third-best record in the Western Conference (17-7) and are the leaders of the Southwest Division. The Heat came into the game with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference (18-7) and are the leaders of the Southeast Division.
But the injury to Doncic not only put an unfortunate spin on this game. It also sucked the wind out of the arena.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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