Is Luka Doncic playing tonight against the Pacers? Latest injury update on Mavs' star ahead of matchup (27th March 2023)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has struggled with injuries this season. Doncic has missed 16 games this season due to various ailments. His most recent setback was a thigh injury he sustained in the Mavs' 113-106 loss against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 8.
Doncic seems to have fully recovered from that injury and has played the team's past three games. He has scored at least 30 points in every game and looked comfortable. Doncic will be available for the Mavs' next game against the Pacers on Monday.
The Slovenian picked up his suspension-warranting 16th technical foul of the season in Dallas' 110-104 loss against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. However, according to the latest updates, the NBA has rescinded the technical foul issued on Doncic.
The NBA has rescinded Dallas star Luka Doncic's 16th technical foul, making him eligible to play tonight vs. Pacers.
Luka Doncic's availability a big relief for struggling Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks have gone from a legitimate playoff contender to a team fighting to make the play-in tournament. The Mavericks are 7-13 since adding Kyrie Irving. They are 36-39 and ranked 11th in the Western Conference, one game behind the 10th seed and 2.5 games behind sixth.
The Mavericks had depth, especially defensively, before that move, but the departures of Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith following the Irving trade have left them shorthanded in various aspects.
The Mavericks are 7-13 since trading for Kyrie Irving. https://t.co/Pe2DNopFwz
Irving and Luka Doncic have maintained their production, but their fit isn't making much of a difference from the team's perspective. Both are average defenders at best.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks have been heavily relying on them on offense too, which has seen them struggle to produce results even against lowly-ranked teams like the Charlotte Hornets. Other teams vying for a playoff spot are trending in the right direction, making it even more difficult for the Mavericks to secure their trip to the postseason.
Luka Doncic's availability against the Indiana Pacers will be massive for the team. The Mavericks are running out of time to break out of their slump, with only seven games left in the regular season.
The Mavericks also have one of the toughest schedules, with their next four games on the road. During this stretch, they will face playoff contenders like the Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat and other playoff hopefuls like the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks.
Also read: "It's just been so frustrating for a lot of reasons"- Luka Doncic seems to be troubled by several issues as Mavs continue to fall with loss to Hornets