Editor’s Note: It has now been confirmed by ESPN’s Luka Dončić will miss Game 1 against the Utah Jazz due to the calf injury he suffered during the Mavericks’ regular-season finale against the San Antonio Spurs.
Luka Doncic (calf strain) will be out for Game 1 vs. Utah on Saturday, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/khsbHSRcbV
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 15, 2022
Luka Dončić will miss at least Game 1 against the Jazz due to a strained calf, according to Shams Charania.
Mavericks star Luka Doncic is expected to miss Game 1 vs. Jazz on Saturday night due to strained calf, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
The latest regarding Doncic: https://t.co/bEFYKs2gmk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2022
Dončić suffered the injury last Sunday in the third quarter of the Mavericks’ season finale against the Spurs. Dončić playing at all in the third frame came with some derision, although the Mavs had an incentive to play their starters. Had the Mavs won, and the Warriors lost against the Pelicans, Dallas would’ve entered the playoffs as the third seed. However, that scenario didn’t play out because the Warriors blew the Pelicans out 128-107.
Coach Jason Kidd said seeding didn’t affect his decision to play Dončić and his starters. Kidd also said he intended to always play his starters through the third due to a long layoff between their last regular-season game and playoffs starting.
Dončić averaged 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game on 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 35.5 percent shooting three-point territory.
