The Mavericks may have to kick off their 2022 NBA Playoff run without their best player.
Luka Doncic suffered a calf injury in Dallas' regular season finale on Sunday, putting his availability for opener of the Mavericks' first-round series against the Jazz in jeopardy. Game 1 is scheduled to start on Saturday afternoon, so Doncic will have limited time to recover.
What is Doncic's status? Here are the latest updates on the three-time All-Star.
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Will Luka Doncic play in Game 1 of 2022 NBA Playoffs vs. Jazz?
Doncic will miss Game 1, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who noted there is also "significant concern" about whether he will be able to play in Game 2. The Mavericks are reportedly taking a "day-by-day" approach with the injury.
"[Doncic is] progressing, doing good," Dallas coach Jason Kidd told reporters on Thursday. "[He] didn't practice, but he's in good spirits and had a good day. ... Injuries happen, and sometimes they happen at the wrong time. This is one that just happened at the wrong time. If he can't go, we've got to play without him, and if he can go, we've still got to find a way to beat a very talented Utah team.
"With him, it doesn't guarantee us anything of winning games, but we all understand that gives us a good chance. But we also have played without him and found ways to win. So if he can't go Saturday afternoon, we've got to be ready. We've been working all week to get ready, so we'll see."
What is Luka Doncic's injury?
In the third quarter of the Mavericks' April 10 game against the Spurs, Doncic drove down the middle of the floor and passed the ball out to Reggie Bullock. As Doncic jogged back to the perimeter, he reached down toward his left leg.
He eventually left the game, clearly limping as he walked to the locker room.
An MRI later confirmed that Doncic had suffered a left calf strain. Dallas has not yet offered a timetable for his return.
Mavericks vs. Jazz Game 1 start time
- Date: Saturday, April 16
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
Game 1 of the Mavericks-Jazz series will tip off around 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 16. The game will be played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Mavericks vs. Jazz schedule
Here is the complete schedule for the first-round series between the Mavericks and Jazz.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| April 16 | Game 1 | 1 p.m. |
| April 18 | Game 2 | 8:30 p.m. |
| April 21 | Game 3 | 9 p.m. |
| April 23 | Game 4 | 4:30 p.m. |
| April 25 | Game 5* | TBD |
| April 28 | Game 6* | TBD |
| April 30 | Game 7* | TBD |
*If necessary
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MORE: Watch the NBA playoffs on Sling TV (U.S. only)
