Mavericks Star Luka Doncic OUT vs. Knicks, Jalen Brunson
After making a trade with the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby, the New York Knicks have rattled off a season-high five consecutive wins with the average margin of victory at 24 points. As a result, New York (22-15) is the only undefeated team in the NBA in the new calendar year and each of their next two opponents are dealing with significant injury issues.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Knicks take on Jalen Brunson's former team, the Dallas Mavericks, at American Airlines Center on Thursday night (8:30 p.m. ET, MSG) but the hosts will be missing one of his former teammates: Thursday's injury report reveals that MVP candidate Luka Doncic will miss the highly-anticipated matchup with an ankle sprain. Dallas (22-16) will still have Kyrie Irving but losing the four-time All-NBA First Teamer is a massive blow to their chances, though they did pick up a 36-point win over Portland without Doncic last Friday night.
Through 34 games played, Doncic is averaging 33.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists while shooting 48.5 percent overall, including 38.0 percent from three-point range. Doncic last faced the Knicks in Dallas just over a year ago last December when he recorded an incredible 60-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist triple-double as the Mavs pulled off a miracle 126-121 win in overtime. Brunson missed that game with a hip injury, reduced to watching Doncic and the Mavericks erase a nine-point deficit with 33 seconds left in regulation.
The Mavs will also be without Dante Exum (planar sprain), and big men Dereck Lively II and Maxi Kleber are listed as doubtful with ankle sprains. There are no surprises on the Knicks' injury report, as Mitchell Robinson (ankle) remains out, though there's reportedly "optimism" about a potential return before the year lets out.
