Mavs' Luka Doncic, Derrick Jones Jr. Doubtful to Play vs. Pelicans; Dereck Lively II Update
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks played their 40th game of the season on Saturday, losing 118-108 to the undermanned New Orleans Pelicans, playing on the second night of a back-to-back without four key players. The two teams will face off again on Monday, completing a two-game mini-series.
Doncic is considered doubtful to play as he continues to manage a right ankle sprain. He tried playing through what was considered swelling for a few games before Bismack Biyombo falling on his ankle worsened the injury in his most recent performance — the Mavs' letdown loss against the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies on Jan. 9. He's missed the previous two games.
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When the Mavs tipoff against the Pelicans on Monday, if Doncic is ruled out, the team will have played 21 games without having one of Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving in the lineup, surpassing the number of games (20) played with both. Even one of those outings played with each superstar includes the game Irving suffered his right heel contusion after six minutes of action, causing him to miss 12 games.
Dereck Lively II is questionable to play and hasn't played since Jan. 3, when he suffered a left ankle sprain against the Portland Trail Blazers, ending his performance after 19 minutes. He began the previous cycle of injury reports as questionable before being downgraded to doubtful and ultimately ruled out. His status is one to watch.
Dante Exum (right plantar sprain) remains out, while Derrick Jones Jr. (right calf contusion) is doubtful as a new addition to the injury report.
Maxi Kleber returned to the Mavs' lineup during Saturday's loss against the Pelicans after missing 31 games due to a right small toe dislocation. He's still on the injury report for that issue but is probable to play on Monday.
The seventh-ranked Mavs began the season 9-3 but have gone 14-14 since. December marked the start of many injuries to important players, with the team unable to stay healthy since. The team's matchup against the Pelicans on Monday will be necessary for standings implications, given a loss clinches a loss of the tie-breaker against the team currently sixth in the Western Conference.
