Scared of Doncic! Mavericks question if he played in the pivotal Game 4 against the Timberwolves

Doncic had a serious injury that may prevent him from playing for the Mavs.

Concerns are growing over the Dallas Mavericks, who will play a pivotal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first time in 13 years to secure their spot in the NBA Finals, having won the championship ring behind Dirk Nowitzki.

With their big star, Luka Doncic, severely physically exhausted and with his team designating him as “questionable” for this game, meaning he has a fifty percent chance of participating, the question at hand is if they can pull it off.

The Slovenian prodigy has been clearly hobbling for a few games and is currently rehabilitating from an injured right knee in addition to severe left ankle discomfort.

Despite his poor health, the former Real Madrid player plans to participate unless his team’s physicians advise against it. Throughout his career, he has had previously had many Playoff games when he was marked as doubtful, but he ultimately didn’t miss any. Too much is on the line.

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Potentially missing centre Dereck Lively

Actually, Doncic’s biggest worry right now isn’t his unstable physical state but rather the potential absence of teammate Dereck Lively, who took an unintentional knee to the head from Karl-Anthony Towns on Sunday during Game 3 of the series against the Wolves while the Mavericks centre was falling to the ground during a play early in the third quarter. Lively suffered a sprained neck. The NBA’s concussion protocol has not been accessed by Lively.

He is undoubtedly a fantastic player. He has been a huge asset to us both during the regular season and these playoffs. It goes without saying that if he is eventually unable to play, we will miss him. After Game 3, Doncic stated, “But if it occurs, we have to have the next person out there for him ready.” He doesn’t seem to be trying to miss it.

The Mavs rookie made a significant impact to the playoffs with his 8.5+7.1+1.1 blocks and 65.3% shooting. He was the second player in the title series to have a +109 +/- rating while on the court, just behind Wolves centre Rudy Gobert.

Since Daniel Gafford joined the club in February, Lively has developed a strong rapport with him. The two centres have provided the Dallas squad with an extra level of inside play that they were lacking, as well as the ideal foil for Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who frequently hang overhead passes for them to finish.

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Maxi Kleber may return to action for the Mavericks.

Not all bad news, though, as the Mavs may welcome back 2.08m power forward Maxi Kleber for Game 4 of the series early this morning. Kleber has been sidelined since sustaining a dislocated right shoulder during Dallas’ first-round victory over the LA Clippers. He is marked as “questionable” by his club on the preliminary roster, and he may make a comeback.

Kleber was a key member of the Mavericks team that advanced to the West Finals the previous two seasons. He made a significant impact on defence and nailed 10/18 three-pointers in the six games of the first round against the Clippers.

If he were there, Jason Kidd’s game plans would be more adaptable since he could use the German as a power forward when Gafford or Lively are on the floor, or as a centre in a small five to play five on the perimeter on offence.

Source:
https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/dallas-mavericks/2024/05/28/6655a2d6268e3e28188b45a0.html

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