The Dallas Mavericks were unable to come away with a win against the Utah Jazz in Game 1 on Friday with superstar Luka Doncic sidelined by an injury. There was some hope that the Mavs would get their All-NBA guard back in time for Game 2, but the latest update on Doncic's status doesn't bode well for an appearance on Monday. According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Doncic is considered “unlikely” to play Monday night.
While the Mavs haven't gone as far as to rule Doncic out for Monday's contest, the stage seems set for the team to take the court without its leader once again. Doncic has been dealing with a left calf strain he sustained late in the regular season. The injury forced him to miss Game 1, a 99-93 loss, and it's expected he'll be unavailable for Game 2 against the Jazz, too.
This is obviously a huge loss for the Mavs, who will be without their superstar during their most critical juncture. While they were able to keep pace with the Jazz on Friday, the Mavs weren't able to edge out a win. With Doncic sidelined again on Monday, they could find themselves heading to Utah facing a 2-0 deficit.
In order for Doncic to take the floor on Monday, the Mavs would have to see signs of dramatic improvement in his condition. The team has no intention of rushing him back and further aggravating his injury, despite how much they need him on the floor.
The Mavericks and Jazz are set to play Game 2 on their home court, with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST on Monday night. With Doncic most likely sidelined, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson will look to shoulder the offensive load for the Mavs.
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