Mavs' Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving Headline Injury Report vs. Knicks; Jalen Brunson Questionable
NEW YORK CITY — The Dallas Mavericks will end a three-game East Coast road trip when they face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
The Mavs submitted an injury report that includes Luka Doncic (broken nose) and Kyrie Irving (right thumb sprain) as probable to play. Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) is questionable, while Dereck Lively II (nasal fracture) and Dante Exum (right knee bursitis) have been ruled out.
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Doncic tested out a face mask to protect his nose when playing against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, but it clearly bothered him. He removed it before finishing his pre-game workout and tried to adjust it a lot. He wore it to begin the game but removed it during a timeout early in the first quarter and finished without it.
When discussing why he didn't play the game through with the mask, Doncic mentioned how it didn't fit since it wasn't customized for him. It was difficult for him to breathe through his nose, which bothered him. He still went on to record 35 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists in the 119-107 victory against Brooklyn.
"[The mask] was Maxi's, actually," Doncic said. "I couldn't fit in the mask."
"A little bit — it's hard to breathe [through] the nose," Doncic explained. "So it bothered me a little bit."
Lively underwent surgery to repair his nasal fracture on Monday in Dallas and will not rejoin the team on the road trip. A timeline for his return to competition remains to be seen since it's based on his pain tolerance after undergoing surgery.
There still is no information available about a possible timetable for return for Exum, who has only played three games since the start of January.
The Knicks are dealing with no shortage of injuries, including former Jalen Brunson, who is questionable with a right ankle sprain. O.G. Anunoby (right elbow bone spur irritation), Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder), Mitchell Robinson (left ankle surgery), and Quentin Grimes (sprained right knee) have been ruled out. Jericho Sims (illness) is considered questionable to play.
The game will take place hours after the trade deadline at 3 p.m. Eastern, which is naturally something to monitor considering how it would change the status of any player involved in a trade.
