6:02pm: As expected, Doncic will be available for Game 2 on Sunday, the Mavericks have confirmed (via Twitter).
3:42pm: All-NBA Mavericks guard Luka Doncic has seen his status downgraded to questionable for Sunday night’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals, per Brian Robb of MassLive.com.
He was previously considered probable to play through an ankle and knee injury, Robb reports. Now, Dallas’ best player is dealing with a thoracic contusion. Jared Weiss of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that Doncic’s torso appeared to be bothering him during team workouts on Saturday.
However, Marc Stein tweets that sources inform him the 6’7″ superstar plans to play through the new ailment.
Even with a knee sprain Thursday, Doncic scored 30 points and pulled down 10 boards during the defeat, though he handed out just one assist. Through 18 healthy games in the playoffs thus far, the 25-year-old is averaging 28.8 points on a .440/.343/.791 shooting line, 9.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per night. Doncic is appearing in his first-ever Finals.
If Doncic is limited at all due to his health issues, the Mavericks would likely expand the roles of reserve guards Jaden Hardy, Josh Green and Dante Exum to bolster the club’s backcourt, while running more of their offense through eight-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving.
The Celtics currently lead the series 1-0, following a dominant 107-89 blowout victory Thursday.
He will still play so does not matter.
Actually, it does matter. See: game 1.
So lose by 20pts or lose by 35pts without him…still a loss so won’t matter to anyone but gamblers.
So wait you think the spread is 20 points? Haha why would that scenario matter to gamblers?!
I don’t gamble…point is if they lose either way only gamblers are going to care.
is someone trying to hex the NBA and just gift wrap a title to the celtics?! My god…. this is insane
God and Luke Kornet are tight bro.
Celtics need no help. Deepest team in league. Series over in 5 at best . Study game before embarrassing yourself .
Celtics went without KP until the other night. Happens to all teams.
Blow out again and again
highly suspicious that every best player that plays against the Celtics gets injured, Almost like its scripted
You are kidding right? Please say you are kidding
So you’re saying Luka, Haliburton, Butler and Mitchell are all cheaters and on the take?
And Porzingis is also on the take and got hurt just to make things look good?
Interesting.
No, KP just gets injured, its who he is. Another day in the life of Kitchen Patrol
Right. So you’re saying KP is not on the take, but Luka, Haliburton, Butler and Mitchell all are. That’s what I thought too bro.
To conspiracy theorists and those with IQ Lower than one celled amoeba. Celtics most talented and deepest team in nba Mr.Jones.
In a way, Luka playing may be better for the Celtics. When ball-dominating stars are out, and Luka is #1 in this, any first game against not them without the star, Luka in this case, is scary. Each opponent plays free without their star & thus plays more like a team. Come on Celts! Bear down! Win this one! Go Celts!
The Celtics have once again survived the terrifying duo of Luka and Kyrie.
When will with this nightmare end