Mavericks stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis won’t play in Monday’s game against Utah, according to the league’s official injury report. Dallas will also be without starting forward Dorian Finney-Smith.
Doncic and Porzingis are both listed out due to “injury recovery” — right ankle for Doncic and left knee for Porzingis. Finney-Smith, meanwhile, is dealing with a left hip strain.
At 42-30, the No. 7 Mavericks are two games behind the sixth-seeded Jazz (43-27), so today’s game has seeding implications. If the Mavs lose, they’ll be locked into the No. 7 seed in the West. Utah, just a half-game behind the No. 5 Thunder, could still move up a spot or two in the standings, though the team may prefer to remain at No. 6 if it means avoiding the Rockets in the first round. Houston has eliminated the Jazz in the postseason in each of the last two years.
Donovan Mitchell has also been downgraded from questionable to out for today’s game due to a left lower leg peroneal strain, according to the Jazz (via Twitter).
Meanwhile, per the league’s injury report, the Thunder will be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right calf contusion), Steven Adams (left lower leg contusion), Danilo Gallinari (left ankle injury maintenance), and Nerlens Noel (right ankle sprain), in addition to missing Dennis Schröder, who remains out for personal reasons after attending the birth of his child.
Those absences bode well for the Suns, who will need to remain undefeated in the bubble in order to keep pace in the race for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot. As we detailed earlier today, Phoenix won’t technically be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss, but it would make the path to a play-in spot a whole lot more difficult.
The Thunder are missing 60% of their normal rotation. I guess it’ll be up to Chris Paul to carry the squad to victory!
I just hope it stays Rockets vs Thunder in 1 st rd. This will be a very entertaining series. Lotta fun. We will see how a smart team plays against small ball. Must see TV.
OKC has a tough remaining schedule against the Heat and Clippers. If Utah beats Dallas today, OKC will likely face Denver.
Except it looks like Utah is deliberately trying to lose so they can avoid having to play Houston again. They were up 70-54 at the half.
Yeah, losing to Dallas without KP, Doncic, and Finney-Smith is pretty inexcusable. Utah hasn’t been historically successful against the Rockets, so you could be right. They matchup better with Denver, as Gobert can defend Jokic and Mitchell can take on Murray
Jokic is unstoppable!
It is not inexcusable. Dallas has Boban, who is like the Chuck Norris of basketball.
Would love to see
Lakers vs Blazers
Clippers vs Mavs
Nuggets vs Jazz
Rockets vs Thunder
Lakers Blazers would be great. Bron AD vs Lillard McCollum Melo and Nurkic.
Potentially a huge upset.
Clippers vs Mavs is a good match up. Can Kawhi stop Doncic and how do they stop Porzingod. Shooters be defenders.
Nuggets vs Jazz is a great match up. Gobert and Mitchell vs Jokic and Murray.
Rockets vs Thunder would be a great watch. Russ coming for revenge. CP3 with something to prove. Schroder vs Gordon. How good is big Steve?
Then second round match ups
Lakers best Blazers in 6 or 7 then have to take on the Rockets. That’s another tough series for both. Bron vs Harden and can the rockets stop Porzingis then AD.
Clippers/Mavs have a long series vs Nuggets/Jazz also off the back of a long series.
Think the Bucks Raptors Celtics would all love to come out of the easy after easy first round match ups. Whereas West looks set for long tough series each round for all teams
You assume OKC gets knocked? They could be a surprise Round 1 Winner. They have been good at shutting down Harden, and we don’t know how Westbrook will look
Yeah I’d take Rockets over Thunder. Just playing ISO ball you’ll have Russ and Harden against CP3 and SGA. Rockets can just attack SGA with either guard. I like Shai but he is young and would struggle in a series against Russ going at him over and over and Harden saucing him up.
Not to mention Steven Adams having to defend the premier on PJ Tucker or RoCo which hurts OKCs defence.
Rockets on defence will have to be smart but I’d play 3-2 zone a lot. Harden Russ and House up top and RoCo and Tucker down low. With Tucker and Covington just blocking and deflecting passing lanes your going to get lots of fast break points