We are getting closer and closer to the purest definition of the word “bad luck”. Luka Doncic was released from injury while playing the last game of the regular season with the Mavericks, and is officially injured in the left calf after the relentless passage to the MRI. No return date communicated yet, a week before the start of the Playoffs, terrible timing for Dallas.
How hard! Luka Doncić, who had an MRI last night, is badly injured in the calf, according to ESPN NBA Insider Tim MacMahon. There is currently no information available on the exact nature of the injury, which can range from a simple micro-lesion in the muscles requiring a few days of rest, to a contracture or tear that goes deeper into the muscle fiber, causing the Slovenian magician on the sidelines for a few weeks. Unfortunately, the time has come for the Mavs to be sorely missed as the Playoffs begin on Saturday for the Texans and it will take all the strength of the team to force the hierarchy against the Jazz. Unfortunately, the leader is currently suspended due to the judgment of the medical staff, and that is total defeat. According to Marc Stein, Jason Kidd will be addressing the media today and will definitely bring some new news, so we will be on high alert.
The MRI of Luka Doncic today confirmed a calf strain, as expected, per source. Mavs have not set a timetable for his return. https://t.co/iqYXmbJK0I
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) Apr 11, 2022
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd is scheduled to address the media during Tuesday’s lunch break in Dallas, but again, there are no league rules that require a declarative Tuesday update for a Saturday tip. We’ll have to see how much he’s willing to share when the Luka questions kick in. https://t.co/yObf8FLndn
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) Apr 12, 2022
Now we also have to ask ourselves: why, but why on earth did Luka play in a match like this? All the coaching staff with big players under their command (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid) have decided to rest them precisely to avoid an injury that would ruin these teams’ chances for the Playoffs. The Mavericks finished fourth in the West this Sunday and could only regain third place after a defeat by the Warriors, who already took the lead against the Pelicans in the play-in. Brandon Ingram was an example on the bench, in short, everything was there for Golden State to take without forcing the win. These elements in our possession, what interest for the Mavericks to send anyone in a match that would not have changed their situation in the standings? It’s risking an injury for an important player, and that’s bingo.
Dallas knew the risks, and Jason Kidd decided to take them, at the risk of paying a heavy price. We are now waiting for news from the medical staff of the Unicorns, but without looking, the current trend is not really news that will make us smile.
Text source: Twitter @espn_macmahon / Twitter @TheSteinLine
