The Dallas Mavericks will be one step closer to starting the regular season following tonight, as they close out the preseason against the Milwaukee Bucks at the American Airlines Center.
Dallas is 0-3 entering tonight’s game, but the emergence of Jazian Gortman and Jaden Hardy’s progression have helped to overshadow the team’s overall struggles.
Klay Thompson showed some early struggles in Dallas’ last game against the LA Clippers, as he shot 0-9 from the field and turned the ball over four times. This strugglesome performance has seemingly overshadowed his overwhelmingly positive debut on both ends of the floor, and he is going to be a great fit next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Dallas is set to wrap up the preseason tonight against Milwaukee at 6:30 p.m. CT, and there are plenty of glaring questions when it comes to who is playing in this game. Will Doncic play tonight? Here’s all the latest on what we know about his injury and his status for the game.
Although Doncic’s official status has not been disclosed, Jason Kidd has stated that he would most likely miss tonight’s game against the Bucks due to a calf injury suffered shortly before training camp. Kidd claimed that he practiced fully on Wednesday, but probably won’t play against Milwaukee.
Doncic has been out with an injury since early October, and Dallas is unlikely to rush him back for a preseason game.
Teams have yet to provide official injury reports for the preseason until the day of the game, but the Mavs are dealing with a couple of injuries that have limited players’ availability.
Maxi Kleber has been sidelined with an ankle sprain for the whole preseason, and it can be presumed that he’ll be out against the Bucks as he didn’t completely practice on Wednesday. Kessler Edwards has also been out of the lineup for the whole preseason due to an ankle sprain, and he is expected to be out again tonight.
On a serious note, Dante Exum had wrist surgery earlier this month and will miss tonight’s game. Exum’s ailment could keep him sidelined until 2025.
Despite the fact that this calf contusion is not the same as the calf strains he has suffered over the last two and a half years, Doncic’s left calf has been put through its paces. Doncic suffered a calf strain in the early stages of the 2022 NBA Playoffs and during the preseason last season.
Doncic’s calf contusion appears to be less significant this time around, and he should be able to play in the season opening next week.
Doncic’s rest this summer was critical, considering he endured numerous injuries during the NBA playoffs last season. He was substantially handicapped by the time the NBA Finals arrived, and they’ll need him to be at his peak to have another successful season.