The 5x All-Star Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks will host the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, concluding Indiana’s three-game road trip, following a loss in their last matchup on February 25th.
The Mavs have endured back-to-back losses against the Boston Celtics on the road and against the Philadelphia 76ers at home. They currently hold a 2-4 record after the All-Star break.
Will Luka Doncic play against the Pacers?
Entering tonight’s matchup, the Mavs have various players listed on the injury report, including their key player, Luka Doncic, who is the leading candidate for the scoring title this season, may not play tonight’s game against the Pacers due to a right ankle sprain.
Dealing with ankle injuries all season, Luka has averaged 34.5 ppg, putting up monster numbers now and then, including his career-high 73-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks on January 26th.
Other players listed on the injury report, including Derrick Jones Jr. with a left shoulder strain and Maxi Kleber with left knee soreness, are also questionable. However, the unavailability of Luka may pose problems for the franchise, considering the competitiveness of the Western Conference after the All-Star break.
Looking back at Luka Doncic’s POTM-winning February
Since the All-Star break, Luka has averaged 37 points per game, 11.3 assists, and 9.3 rebounds on 52.6% field goals and 42.1% from the three, and with this historic performance, he was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for February.
Jason Tatum won the POTM for the Eastern Conference. Luka has already received this honor three times: in November 2019, February 2022, and December 2022, putting him behind the Mavs legend, Dirk Nowitzki, who has won the award six times.
Luka scored a total of 367 points, 113 assists, and 106 rebounds in February, becoming the second player to do so after Russell Westbrook during the 2014–15 season. The big three of the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Kristaps Porzingis, have dominated the league offensively throughout the 2023–24 season, and fans love to see them play together.
Unfortunately, being listed as ‘questionable’ against the Pacers during this crucial time may raise some great concerns for the franchise record before the playoffs.
