2 min read • April 19, 2022
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The Mavericks leveled their first round series with the Jazz on Monday night behind 41 points from Jalen Brunson, who is filling in more than admirably for the absent Luka Doncic.
The Game 2 win will give Dallas extra time to rest Doncic's injured calf but Mavericks fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the perennial MVP candidate.
Shams Charania reported Tuesday that there's optimism the 23-year-old can return for Game 3 on Thursday or Game 4 on Saturday.
But another question remains: how effective will Doncic play when he's back?
Our team or ProBasketballDocs, which includes former Bulls' head physician Dr. John Hefferon, anticipate that Doncic can have nearly all of his offensive arsenal, but will be a liability on the defensive end because of his limited mobility.
The calf strain, while sounding innocuous, is a significant and painful injury and in different circumstances he could easily miss the entire series. Doncic, however, is a unique athlete.
Unlike his superstar peers, such as Stephen Curry, Doncic's playing style is slower and more deliberate, hinging heavily on his size and ball handling ability to create open looks.
As the star of the Mavericks' heliocentric offense, he can lead the attack without the burst he has yet to regain after suffering the calf injury on April 10. He proved this earlier this season, when he returned much earlier than expected from a high ankle sprain.
Much like with that early return, however, Doncic will be at a high risk for reaggravation.
If that were to happen, similar to the fate of James Harden or Anthony Davis in last year's playoffs, he would likely miss the remainder of the postseason.
Doncic will certainly not be 100% when he returns – and is likely a ways away from it – but the Mavericks need his basketball wizardry as soon as possible.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Jazz are favored by 6 points for Thursday's Game 3 and the Mavericks are +188 to win the series, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
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