2 min read • April 14, 2022
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Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic's calf strain is reportedly expected to keep him out of Saturday's playoff opener against the Utah Jazz.
Doncic strained his the calf muscle in his left leg on Sunday, exiting the contest in the third quarter.
With six days off before Game 1 against Utah, the ProBasketballDocs were optimistic about Doncic's chances to play Saturday but noted that he would be limited, especially on defense.
If Doncic indeed misses Saturday's opener, the question then becomes when will he play in the series. Details about the severity of Doncic's calf injury remain scarce and the Mavs did not set a timetable for his return after getting the MRI results on Monday.
Regardless of the severity, calf injuries tend to linger and the 23-year-old will likely not be 100% until deep in the playoffs.
However, given his size and skill he should still be able to produce offensively when he returns.
Doncic's absence is a big blow to Dallas' chances in the playoffs. He has been enormously productive in his limited playoff experience, averaging 33.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.5 assists on 24.7 shots with a .494/.392/.600 split.
Game 2 of the Jazz/Mavericks series is set to take place Monday, with Game 3 scheduled for the following Thursday and Game 4 on April 23.
For Game 1, the Jazz are 5-point favorites and the over/under is 210, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
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