Luka Dončić 'Trending in Right Direction' as Mavericks Prepare for Knicks; Grimes and Lively II Cleared to Play
The Dallas Mavericks (10-8) are set to face the New York Knicks (10-7) on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center with positive updates regarding their injury report. Quentin Grimes and Dereck Lively II, who had been sidelined due to illness, will be available to play.
Lively played until halftime during Monday’s 129-119 win over the Atlanta Hawks but was later ruled out, while Grimes missed the whole game.
However, the Mavericks will still be missing several key players, including Klay Thompson (left foot plantar fascia), Daniel Gafford (illness), Luka Dončić (right wrist sprain), and Danté Exum (right wrist surgery).
Despite these injuries, the Mavericks have remained competitive in the Western Conference. Kyrie Irving has taken on a more significant role in Dončić’s absence, delivering big performances like his 32-point outing in the Mavericks’ win over the Hawks. Irving has an impressive 10-5 record in games without Dončić, averaging 28.7 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds across 15 games in his career with Dallas.
“We’ve got a lot of competitors in this locker room, a lot of hoopers, and guys that just want to win and are willing to put their bodies on the line,” Irving said after the win. “We’re not sure who’s going to be healthy day in and day out, but those who suit up are going to be ready to play. You’ve just got to put the best effort forward and leave it all out there.”
On Dončić, head coach Jason Kidd shared some encouraging information while the Slovenian superstar went through a pre-game workout.
“He’s doing his individual workouts,” Kidd said. “Everything I’ve heard or seen is trending in the right direction.”
After facing the New York Knicks, the Dallas Mavericks will practice again on Friday, which could provide more clarity about Luka Dončić ahead of a two-game road trip that includes stops in Utah and Portland on a back-to-back, starting on Saturday.
