The Dallas Mavericks expected star wing Luka Doncic to miss a couple weeks after Doncic sprained his ankle against the Miami Heat on Saturday.

Yet, Doncic was already on the court taking jumpers prior to the Mavs' Wednesday night matchup against the Boston Celtics, which seemingly poses the question about a return well ahead of schedule.

The 20-year-old certainly looks to be moving comfortably, albeit in a more stationary position. Still, might he be ready to play sooner rather than later?

Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle tempered expectations on Wednesday night. Carlisle said that while Doncic will travel with the team to Philadelphia and Toronto, it would be “highly unlikely” for Doncic to suit up for either contest.

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It would be a shame if Doncic were rushed back and experienced a setback.

He has been sensational in his sophomore campaign, averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 9.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists for the Mavs. And that line includes the Heat game although Doncic played just a few minutes before suffering the injury.

Doncic currently ranks second in offensive win shares and player efficiency rating (PER) and is tied for the league lead in terms of value over replacement player (VORP), according to Basketball Reference. Obviously, he has been the anchor behind a surprisingly competitive Mavs team.

Having said that, Dallas earned a stunning victory by beating the Milwaukee Bucks — and snapping their 18-game win streak — without Doncic on the floor on Monday night. They will look to add momentum by beating the Celtics on before hitting the road to take on the Sixers and Raptors.

Just do not expect Doncic to make a miraculous return.