Doncic Out For Game Two As Mavericks Host Jazz
Apr 18, 2022, 5:06 PM | Updated: 5:08 pm
Royce O'Neale of the Utah Jazz defends Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Dallas Mavericks will once again be without All-Star guard Luka Doncic when they host the Utah Jazz in game two of their opening round playoff matchup.
Doncic was absent in the Jazz 99-93 victory over the Mavericks after suffering a calf strain in Dallas’s season finale win over the San Antonio Spurs.
The guard was listed as doubtful on Sunday but downgraded by coach Jason Kidd shortly before tip-off on Tuesday night.
Jason Kidd confirms Luka Doncic is unavailable tonight for the @dallasmavs in game two against the @utahjazz. #TakeNote | #MFFL
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 18, 2022
Prior to the postseason opener, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the injury could seriously impact Doncic’s availability to open the series.
“I’m told this is more than just a mild calf strain,” Wojnarowski said. “The Mavericks are very much preparing for the possibility of not only maybe not having him in game one, but maybe even game two.”
The Mavericks are 8-10 in games this season when playing without Doncic, and just 1-9 against playoff opponents including Saturday’s loss to open the series.
Doncic was the NBA’s third-leading scorer during the regular season and fifth-leading assist man.
Luka Dončić (left calf strain) is out for Game 2 against the Jazz.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (left foot surgery) and Frank Ntilikina (illness recovery) will remain out.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) April 18, 2022
Veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie started in Doncic’s absence and scored 22 points on 6-15 shooting. Dinwiddie did miss six of his game-high 16 free-throw attempts, and all four of his three-point shots.
Doncic leads the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals this season, and is one of the more difficult players to replace in the NBA due to his high usage and excellent efficiency.
Broadcast
The Jazz and Mavericks will tip-off game at 6:30 pm MT and can be heard on KSL NewsRadio and The Zone Sports Network. The game will be televised on NBATV, AT&T SportsNet, and FuboTV.
