Luka Doncic Out – Dallas Mavericks Face Tough Week

The Dallas Mavericks lost the game as well as their star Luka Doncic to a sprained ankle injury on Sunday.

Luka Doncic went down in the opening minutes of the game against the Miami Heat, which Dallas lost 122 – 118.

The Dallas Mavericks rallied from a 24 point deficit to lead by four points late in the fourth quarter. However, they weren’t able to close the game out, losing to the Heat in overtime.

While X-rays on Luka Doncic were negative, he is likely to miss a week or two. The timing couldn’t be worse for the Mavericks, who face stiff competition this week.

Want $250 to bet on the NBA?

Dallas plays the Bucks on Monday, who have an 18 game winning streak. They then face Boston at home before trips to Philadelphia and the Toronto Raptors. It is a tricky run in which they will face the Eastern Conference teams with the five best records. 

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle challenged his players to perform regardless of whether or not Doncic is in the team.

“Obviously, we lose a guy that’s a great player,” Carlisle said. 

“We don’t know for how long. We got to circle the wagons with the guys that we have and play like we did in the second half. Pretty simple.”

Dallas guard J.J Beara finished the Miami Heat game with 12 points in 13 minutes. Having only played 6 of 24 games so far, Beara will be one player that has to step up in Doncic’s absence.

“It’s going to be opportunities, a lot of touches for a lot of people,” said J.J. Barea

“Just got to be ready. With him here, with him not here, we’ve still got to start the games better.”

Read: NFL Week 15 Reaction – Notes and Observations

“Just like we did today, the second half,” Tim Hardaway Jr. said of the mindset minus Doncic. 

“But we have to be like that for the whole 48. It’s not going to be easy.”