After tonight, the Dallas Mavericks will be fighting to get that ring they missed last season. Luka Doncic was a crucial piece for the team to get to the NBA Finals as well as Kyrie Irving. However, this time, they will have another seasoned veteran and one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA, Klay Thompson. Although he struggled in the last matchup against the Clippers, the general opinion is one of positivity. That said, the trio of Luka-Kyrie-Klay have yet to take the floor together.
Thanks to a calf contusion Doncic suffered ahead of the training camp, the 25-year-old is yet to make his preseason debut. And with just one chance to try his hand at his fit with the Big 3 before things get serious, will the Slovenian superstar make it tonight?
As per Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com, that, unfortunately, is not something on the schedule. “Jadon [Jason] Kidd said Luka Doncic probably will sit out the last preseason game Thursday Vs. Milwaukee.”
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“Said Kidd: “He practiced today and we move forward from what he did today. A lot of positives. He looked good. He did not forget how to play basketball.””
Jadon Kidd said Luka Doncic probably will sit out the last preseason game Thursday Vs. Milwaukee. Said Kidd: “He practiced today and we move forward from what he did today. A lot of positives. He looked good. He did not forget how to play basketball.”
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) October 16, 2024
Considering how calf injuries have been his ‘Achilles heel,’ this is certainly good news. Moreover, Coach Kidd also said that Luka Doncic completed a full practice after their workout session on Wednesday. That in itself is pretty comforting considering the 5x All-Star’s presence on the floor elevates the Mavs to a whole another level. And with the number of new bodies on the roster, it wouldn’t hurt to build as much rapport and chemistry with them as possible.
But Doncic isn’t the only one on the injury list.
The Mavs have a lengthy list of injured players aside from Luka Doncic and other details
Dallas is already dealing with quite a bunch of injuries to their key players, some of whom might very well be sidelined until 2025. Dante Exum underwent surgery on his right wrist on Tuesday, naturally leaving his status as ‘Out’. Both Maxi Kleber and Kessler Edwards haven’t played the entire preseason due to an ankle sprain. The chances of them suiting up are less, particularly Kleber, given he didn’t practice fully on Wednesday.
The Bucks, for their part, have only one name on the injury report so far. And that is Khris Middleton with an ankle injury. The team also rested Irving in their 96-110 loss to the Clippers. Hence the chances of him taking the floor for the preseason finale is high. As such, here is the projected starting lineup for the Mavericks.
POSITION | PG | SG | SF | PF | C |
NAME | Jaden Hardy/Spencer Dinwiddie | Kyrie Irving | Klay Thompson | P.J. Washington | Dereck Lively II |
As for the preseason matchup, it is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 PM ET at American Airlines Center. Well, excited?
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Keep checking this space for more updates.
Meanwhile, hungry for more basketball content? Do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.
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Can the Luka-Kyrie-Klay trio finally bring the Mavericks the championship glory they've been chasing?
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