The Dallas Mavericks expect Luka Doncic to return before the All-Star break, according to “NBA on TNT” reporter Jared Greenberg.
Dallas plays its final game before the break on Feb. 13 against the Miami Heat.
Doncic injured his calf on Christmas Day and has missed the past three weeks.
Mavs Struggling Without Luka
Including the Christmas loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, when Doncic left in the first half, the Mavs have gone 3-8 in the absence of their superstar. That featured a stretch of five straight defeats between Dec. 28 and Jan. 6.
Not helping matters was Naji Marshall getting suspended for four games after an altercation against the Phoenix Suns. P.J. Washington also served a one-game suspension for his involvement.
It’s actually a bit of a surprise two of the wins came against the Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.
As a result of the recent struggles, the Mavs have dropped from 19-10 to 22-18 and sixth in the West. The Lakers and Timberwolves now sit just a half game behind in seventh and eighth, respectively. Even Phoenix and the Golden State Warriors, both currently 19-20, sit just 2.5 games behind in 11th and 12th. Just 2.5 games separate fifth from 12th in the West.
Kyrie Irving Returns
Making life all the more difficult for the Mavs was Kyrie Irving missing nearly two weeks due to a bulging disk in his back.
The 32-year-old returned to action on Tuesday in a 118-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Washington has done his best to pick up the slack in the absence of Dallas’s stars, averaging 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds since Dec. 26.
Spencer Dinwiddie has mixed a few strong games with some duds, while Quentin Grimes has been solid, averaging 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Key Stretches Before Break
Dallas has a couple of key stretches before the All-Star Break, so the timing of Doncic’s return could prove pivotal in the final standings.
First, there is a five-game road trip featuring games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. That is followed by a four-game homestand against Golden State, Miami, the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings.
Next up for Dallas is the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. It will be the second night of a back-to-back.
