NBA Rumor: Luka Doncic Injury
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Luka Doncic to play in Game 5
Rick Carlisle on Luka Doncic's injury: He seems to be doing better
Andrew Greif: Rick Carlisle said he expects Luka Doncic (and Maxi Kleber) to play in Game 5. On Luka: “He seems to be doing better so that’s good news. I don’t know, I’m not sure how much better but he’s definitely better.”
Tim MacMahon: Rick Carlisle on Luka Doncic: “I don’t know if he’s 80%, if he’s 85%. You’d have to ask him, but it does appear that he’s doing better.”
Luka Doncic neck strain 'improved' today
Adrian Wojnarowski: Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic’s neck strain is already being described as “improved” today with two full days off ahead of Wednesday’s Game 5 vs. Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Series is tied 2-2.
Andrew Greif: Luka Doncic was asked about how his neck pain felt in Game 4: “I don’t think that matters right now. We lost by 20. And the injuries are part of basketball, but I was 100 percent. So — but I played terrible. So just gotta move on to the next one.”
Luka Doncic acknowledges nerve issue
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic downplayed the impact of his cervical strain on a Game 4 outing he described as “terrible,” but he acknowledged after Sunday’s 106-81 loss to the visiting LA Clippers that it’s a nerve issue. “The pain is like neck and then the nerve down,” Doncic said. “I don’t really know how to explain that. It felt way better today morning than yesterday. I’ll just keep doing massages, ice it down and then be ready for Wednesday.”
“He’s in pain,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “It appeared to me that he couldn’t turn left, couldn’t look to his left. He couldn’t turn his neck to his left, and that’s difficult for a guy that relies on peripheral vision and basically has played his whole life with his head on a swivel.
Luka Doncic cleared to play against Clippers
Marc Stein: Luka Doncic (neck strain) is now officially available to play in Game 4 tonight against the Clippers, Mavericks say
Luka Doncic expected to play against Clippers
Adrian Wojnarowski: Dallas star Luka Doncic is expected to play vs. Clippers in Game 4 despite his neck strain, source tells ESPN.
Rick Carlisle on Luka Doncic's injury: I think he's going to play
Brad Townsend: “I think he’s going to play,” Carlisle says of Doncic, “but we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” Says he was pleasantly surprised to see Kleber is probable. A good sign.
Luka Doncic questionable for Game 4
Tim MacMahon: Mavericks list Luka Doncic as questionable for Game 4 due to a cervical strain. He said after the Game 3 loss that the pain started in his neck and went down his left arm.
There were the images of Luka Doncic shaking out his right arm, clearly bothered by some kind of shoulder or neck issue. Then the cameras caught Dallas medical staff working on his shoulder area, and the Mavericks’ young star wearing a heat pack on the bench to keep it loose. None of it slowed Doncic, who put up a career playoff-high 44 points in Dallas’ Game 3 loss Friday night, but is this something that will linger and slow him in Game 4? Doncic says that first off this is a neck issue, one he first felt around halftime, and no, it will not slow him, via Callie Caplan at the Dallas Morning News. “It’s just weird,” Doncic said. “I don’t know how you call it. It’s just some massage, some rest, and hopefully we’re good.”
Luka Doncic doubtful for tonight
Luka Doncic out tonight with back stiffness
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has been downgraded to doubtful for Wednesday night’s home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to low back tightness. A source told ESPN that Doncic is still expected to play in Sunday’s All-Star Game even if he sits out Wednesday, which is the Mavs’ final game before the break.
Dallas Mavericks star guard Luka Doncic was sidelined for Sunday’s road game against the Chicago Bulls because of a left quadriceps contusion. Doncic’s status for Monday’s road game against the Houston Rockets has yet to be determined, coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Carlisle said. “We don’t think this is a long-term thing, but we’ll just have to see how he feels when he gets up tomorrow and if tomorrow is going to be a possibility or not.”
Brad Townsend: Not surprising Doncic also is listed as questionable. Was walking with a slight limp after last night’s game. As he left interview area was asked if Morris play made his sprained ankle worse. “It didn’t help,” he said, limping away.
Luka Doncic to play in Game 4
Shams Charania: Mavericks star Luka Doncic (ankle sprain) will play in Game 4 against the Clippers.
“I didn’t want to jeopardize this great young player’s career for a basketball game, no matter how important it seemed at the time,” Nelson testified. Cuban countered in his testimony that there had been medical advances for such injuries since Nelson played, which was 40 years prior. The Dirk knee injury was being dealt with almost 20 years ago. Mavs fans hope the same positive argument made then for him can be made now for Doncic – that “medical advances” and what coach Rick Carlisle calls “every advanced treatment modality that you can have,” or prayer, or luck or pain tolerance – will return the star to the floor, safely and soon.
Mild ankle sprain for Luka Doncic
Tim MacMahon: Source: MRI on Luka Doncic’s sprained left ankle revealed “nothing alarming.” He is expected to be a gametime decision for Sunday afternoon’s Game 4 vs. Clippers.
Tim MacMahon: Rick Carlisle says MRI results for Luka Doncic’s ankle aren’t available yet. “That will certainly have something to do with [his Game 4 status], and mostly it will have to do with how he’s feeling, if he feels that he can play effectively on it.”
Tim MacMahon: Carlisle said there was an issue with the MRI machine in the bubble, so that’s why they don’t have those results yet. Mavs are trying to get that sorted out.
Tim MacMahon: Mavs are listing Luka Doncic (left ankle sprain) as questionable for Game 4 in the notes released by the team PR staff.
Tim MacMahon: As Rick Carlisle mentioned last night, the quick turnaround from a late Friday night game to a Sunday afternoon game decreases the odds of Luka Doncic being available for Game 4. Good news: Early, pre-MRI indications are it’s a mild sprain.
Brad Townsend: Doncic didn’t refer to his injury last night as “a little sprain” because he’s a doctor. That’s what Mavs training staff was indicating to him. Mavs expect that MRI today will confirm that, but they wouldn’t have scheduled one if they had 100% certainty.
Brad Townsend: Neither the Mavs nor Clippers submitted anything for today’s first NBA injury reporter (11 a.m. Eastern). Aren’t required to submit until later today. Next report is 2 p.m., at about which time Mavs are scheduled to have interviews available with Rick Carlisle and 2 players.
Luka Doncic to have MRI
With tape tightly wrapped around his sprained left ankle, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic admitted uncertainty about if he can play against the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. Doncic plans to receive an MRI on Saturday, and Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle expects he may not know the answer until sometime Sunday before tip-off at 3:30 ET. Despite his uncertainty, Doncic sounded more relieved than concerned about his long-term health.
“It’s not that bad,” Doncic said following the Mavericks’ 130-122 Game 3 loss to the Clippers on Friday. “Honestly, I’m lucky it’s my left ankle and not my right.” The reason? Doncic missed 11 games during the season because of a sprained right ankle and an additional game after feeling soreness. Either way, Doncic initially appeared in pain after rolling his left ankle with 4:04 left in the third quarter while defending Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard.
Davide Chinellato: 🇺🇸 Luka says he’ll have an MRI tomorrow to know more about his left ankle. Then in Spanish he said: “The ankle is not an excuse, I played really bad”
Tim MacMahon: Rick Carlisle: “Unsure of the exact severity of Luka’s left ankle. … We’ll know more tomorrow. He did come back and try it obviously and wasn’t moving great, so we’ll see where he is come tomorrow and then Sunday morning.”
As for whether Doncic’s insistence to play jeopardized his chances of returning to 100%? Carlisle stressed the Mavericks were not taking a significant risk with Doncic, who averaged 35.0 points, 8.0 assists and 7.5 rebounds in the first two games of the series. “To my knowledge, there was no further progression of the injury or anything like that. He just couldn’t play in this game. So the right thing was to get him out,” Carlisle said. “He didn’t further injure it. He just wasn’t able to move the way you have to move in a playoff series against a top-seeded team. So getting him out was the right thing.”
Mike McGraw: Seth Curry out, Doncic will play. #Bulls
Callie Caplan: Luka on his right ankle recovery: “I mean, it bothers me sometimes. Obviously, it’s not healed 100%. That’s why I missed the game in Atlanta. It was swollen and, you know, I’m just trying to keep the swelling down.”
Eddie Sefko: Rick Carlisle said he doesn’t think Luka’s sore ankle will be a multi game problem, but will know more by Monday.
Brad Townsend: Mark Cuban says the reality of Luka Doncic’s ankle situation is that, without a lengthy rost, he will continue to feel soreness. “That’s just the nature of the injury. There’s being injured and there’s being hurt. He’s not injured, but it’s going to hurt.”
Dwain Price: Carlisle said Luka will play in the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday in Chicago and in the All-Star game on Sunday. @Dallas Mavericks
Brad Townsend: Officially, as of the 4:30 p.m. NBA injury report, Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game. That’s not a surprise. Rick Carlisle told us he would be listed as questionable or probable. Doncic was emphatic that he will play.
Mark Followill: Mavs news of note from @Mark Cuban visit on new @BenandSkin show: 1. Expects Luka to play Wednesday vs Sacramento 2. Dirk jersey retirement will be early next season
Tim MacMahon: Rick Carlisle on Luka Doncic: “I believe he’s going to be OK by the time the All-Star weekend rolls around. It’s just my feeling that he’ll be able to participate at some level in those events.”
Tim Cowlishaw: Rick Carlisle says on @1033fmESPN that Luka Doncic is out at least for the next six games...
Luka Doncic questionable for All-Star Game?
Marc Stein: No definitive recovery time frame yet on the Maverics’ Luka Doncic, but one source briefed on his condition described Thursday’s injury in practice as a “manageable ankle sprain.” Doncic missed four games in December with a similar injury
Luka Doncic to miss at least two games?
The All-Star guard also is unlikely to play Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks, sources said. Two sources said the ankle injury, suffered when Doncic stepped on another player’s foot, appears to be similar to the sprain he suffered earlier this season.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will miss at least one game after injuring his right ankle during Thursday’s practice. Doncic will undergo an MRI on Friday morning, sources told ESPN, and will not play later that night against the Rockets in Houston.
Doncic suffered the injury near the end of practice on Thursday and was getting treatment while coach Rick Carlisle addressed the media. A source said Doncic stepped on a defender’s foot while driving to the basket during a brief scrimmage.
Luka Doncic suffers injury
Brad Townsend: Luka turned his right ankle in practice. pic.twitter.com/8Fw8HdA4VW
Joe Mussatto: Luka Doncic will play tonight. He was listed as probable.
Dallas Mavericks star guard Luka Doncic briefly entered the concussion protocol during Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers after suffering a hard fall to the court during a first-half drive to the hoop. Doncic was fouled on the drive and stayed in to sink a pair of free throws, but he checked out of the game late in the second quarter and went to the locker room.
Doncic was deemed healthy enough to return to action, and he came back in the second half. He finished with 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds in the 108-95 loss to the Lakers. “It was scary,” said Doncic, who entered the game averaging 29.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.1 assists. “I fell on my back, hit my head and my elbow. I was OK.”
Tim MacMahon: Sources: The Mavs are planning for Luka Doncic to make his return from a sprained right ankle tonight against the Spurs. He has missed last four games and is officially listed as questionable.
Dwain Price: Carlisle said Luka participated in everything in practice today. But he doesn’t know his status for Thursday’s game against the Spurs. @Dallas Mavericks @nba pic.twitter.com/Amo1RlJTvd
Mark Followill: Luka update from Rick Carlisle – “The group of games after Christmas is certainly in play but nothing has been determined yet. Anybody assuming he’ll play the 26th is at their own risk.”
Tim MacMahon: Luka Doncic is moving pretty well during an extended pregame workout. He’ll be at least a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice. His status for Thursday’s home game vs. Spurs might not be determined until game day, but there is some optimism that he’ll return then.
Tim Bontemps: Luka Doncic remains out tonight, but he’s out here pregame in Philadelphia running wind sprints. Not going full speed, but also doesn’t appear to be limping, or have anything extra on his sprained ankle.
After suffering a moderate ankle sprain Saturday, Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic already has shed his crutches and walking boot, coach Rick Carlisle said. “He is responding well to treatment,” Carlisle said before the Mavericks game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. “He is progressing well.”
The Mavericks on Sunday departed Dallas, without Luka Doncic, to face a Milwaukee team that has won 18 straight games and 22 of its last 23. Even so, the Mavericks as a franchise breathed a collective sigh of relief. The right ankle sprain that Doncic suffered Saturday night was diagnosed, according to a Mavericks source, as “moderate.” The source told The News that Doncic almost certainly will miss Dallas’ four games leading into Christmas, but might be able to return soon after that.
Brad Townsend: Doncic will not travel to Milwaukee and instead will receive treatment with trainer Casey Smith, per Mavs. Source tells me Doncic almost certainly will miss this stretch of 4 straight games against the top teams in the East, but could be back soon after Christmas.
Tim MacMahon: Rick Carlisle in text message to reporters: “Luka Doncic will not travel to Milwaukee due to a right ankle sprain. He will stay in Dallas with Casey Smith and receive treatment. There will be no further updates until Wednesday night.”
Luka Doncic out two weeks?
Tim MacMahon: Luka Doncic might be able to return within a couple of weeks after suffering a moderate right ankle sprain last night, sources told ESPN. Doncic likely misses upcoming stretch vs. East power (Bucks, Celtics, 76ers and Raptors this week), but Mavs feel they dodged a bullet.
Brad Townsend: Though several people in the Mavs organization expressed cautious optimism last night that Doncic’s ankle sprain isn’t severe, overnight swelling levels and day-after examinations always are key, so let’s hold off on speculating about how long he will be out.
Luka Doncic has moderate ankle sprain
Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic sustained a moderate right ankle sprain Saturday in the opening minutes of Dallas’ 122-118 overtime loss to the Miami Heat, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. X-rays on the ankle were negative, the team said. “We hope it’s not serious,” said Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, who added that he does not expect Doncic to be available Monday night for a road game against the Milwaukee Bucks. “That’s about all that we have for you now.”
Brad Townsend: Carlisle says, “I don’t expect him to play (Monday) against Milwaukee, but that’s not a media release. That’s just what I’m guessing at this point.”
Tim MacMahon: Only confirmed details are that X-rays were negative and it’s a sprained right ankle for Luka Doncic. It’s concerning that he grabbed the high ankle area while down.
September 28, 2021 | 5:08 am EDT Update
Tension growing against unvaccinated players
Though roughly 90% of NBA players are vaccinated as training camp approaches Tuesday, tension exists between those around the league mandated to be vaccinated and the nearly 40 unvaccinated players, league sources told ESPN.
One general manager told ESPN that the issue of tension between those who are mandated to be vaccinated and those who aren’t “‘just speaks to selfishness run amok. But the NBA is comprised of human beings and we are seeing the same thing in the public at large.”
In some instances, vaccinated staffers say they’re concerned about the health risks of being exposed to unvaccinated players. In others, staffers say they’re upset that players aren’t facing the same vaccine requirements as most team staff and referees. In still others, there’s animosity toward the league itself for not imposing such a mandate.
One vaccinated Western Conference strength and conditioning coach said they’re concerned about a potential breakthrough case that could affect family members. “For me, it’s a problem because my parents are very sick, and I’m in close contact with these guys and I would hate to bring this home and my parents pass away from it,” the coach told ESPN.
Health and safety protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated players have not yet been finalized, league sources said. But it’s expected, as ESPN previously reported, that unvaccinated players will face more testing and be asked to sit in separate areas of team meetings, team meals, locker rooms, on the team plane and bus.
But a second league source also tied to training staffs noted that many peers “believe the league is prioritizing the athletes’ lives over their own. On the opposite side, some members don’t want to force anyone to vaccinate if they feel uncomfortable with it, but it should be a standard set across the board instead of the league one way and the players the other.”
NBA insiders say they’re not aware of any games being missed because of a reaction to the vaccine. Beal, though, did miss time. His case of COVID cost him a spot in the Olympics and the chance to compete for a gold medal.
