Luka Dončić out vs. Thunder with a knee contusion; Jason Kidd hopeful he’ll return Tuesday against the Pelicans. Stay updated on his status for the key matchup.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Dallas Mavericks will face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night without Luka Dončić, who continues to recover from a right knee contusion. Dončić was ruled out on the initial injury report for the second night of a back-to-back following his 28-minute outing against the San Antonio Spurs in Saturday’s 110-93 victory.
Head coach Jason Kidd shared an update on Dončić’s status, expressing cautious optimism about a potential return for Tuesday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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“I think it pertains to his right knee contusion, so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow, and hopefully, he can go on Tuesday [against the Pelicans],” Kidd said.
Dončić has regularly been on the Mavericks’ injury report this season. During the team’s recent three-game road trip, he was listed with a left groin strain before the designation shifted to a right knee contusion. Despite these issues, Dončić has maintained strong production, averaging 29.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in 12 games. However, his efficiency has dipped, with shooting splits of 42.8% from the field, 32.0% from deep, and 81.0% at the free throw line.
After Saturday’s game, Dončić commented on his condition, saying he feels “a little bit less” than 100% but remains optimistic. “I mean, it’s probably a matter of time, just, there’s not a lot of time to rest, but I’ll get better. I promise,” he said.
In Dončić’s absence, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson are expected to shoulder most of the offensive workload. Quentin Grimes will start against the Thunder with Dončić sidelined. Additionally, Jaden Hardy could see an increased role after a notable performance against the Spurs, where he contributed 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist off the bench.
“Jaden was great. He’s been working hard, and tonight he stepped up,” Kidd said. “He gave us scoring, energy, and confidence off the bench, and that’s exactly what we need from him.”
The Mavericks will have a chance to capitalize on a shorthanded Thunder squad. Oklahoma City is dealing with significant injuries in their center rotation, with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams all sidelined. Alex Caruso will also miss the game due to a right hip strain.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CST at Paycom Center, concluding the Mavericks’ back-to-back set.
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