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Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic fully participated in practice on Tuesday and could make his return against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com.
Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said that “things are looking better and better.”
Doncic suffered a sprained ankle during Dallas' loss to the Miami Heat back on Dec. 14 and has been sidelined ever since. He played in just two minutes in that game before exiting.
In 25 games this season, Doncic is averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.2 steals over 32.2 minutes per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor, 32.6 percent from three-point range and 80.3 percent from the free-throw line.
He has already posted eight triple-doubles and has also tallied four 40-point performances this year.
The 20-year-old was originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the third overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, but was immediately traded to the Mavericks for guard Trae Young.
Doncic played in 72 contests during his rookie year, registering 21.2 points, 7.8 boards, six assists and 1.1 steals across 32.2 minutes a night while making 42.7 percent of his field-goal attempts, 32.7 percent of his long-distance tries and 71.3 percent of his foul shots.
The Mavericks have gone 2-2 without Doncic, upsetting the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers while losing to the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors.
On the season overall, Dallas has gone 19-10 and is currently in fifth place in the Western Conference. The Mavs are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016, which represents their longest absence from the postseason since missing the playoffs 10 straight years between 1991 and 2000.