Mavericks Head to Denver with Injuries Mounting; Dončić Questionable Against Nuggets
The Mavericks face the Nuggets with Luka Dončić questionable due to injury, adding to a growing list of absences as Dallas seeks a fresh start on the road.
DENVER — The Dallas Mavericks’ injury report grows as they prepare to face the Denver Nuggets on Sunday on the road. Luka Doncic is listed as questionable with a left groin strain, adding uncertainty to the lineup for their visit to Denver.
Doncic, who scored 30 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists in Dallas’ tight 114-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday, appeared to be in visible discomfort throughout the game. Despite missing the entire preseason with a left calf contusion, he has played in all nine of the Mavericks’ regular-season games, averaging 28.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists.
Dončić acknowledged the team’s slow starts as a recurring problem after Friday’s 114-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns. “Our start was very bad, the same as before,” Dončić said. “We just need to start better every game.”
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Despite his 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in the loss, Dončić appeared visibly frustrated with the team’s lack of urgency in the opening minutes. Reflecting on the comeback effort, he added, “We fought hard in the second half. But we need to bring that same mentality to the first half—it starts with me. We’ve got to come out with that mentality from the very beginning.”
The Mavericks will also be monitoring the statuses of P.J. Washington Jr. (right knee sprain), Dereck Lively II (right shoulder sprain), and Maxi Kleber (right hamstring strain), who are all listed as doubtful. Danté Exum remains out as he recovers from right wrist surgery. Due to the early tipoff time (6 p.m. MT), the Mavericks will not have a morning shootaround. An update regarding Dončić will unlikely come until Kidd speaks to reporters in the pre-game press conference.
The Mavericks, who finished a 2-3 homestand on Friday with a 114-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns, are looking to bounce back against the Nuggets, who are undefeated in their current homestand. Denver has won four straight, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who logged a 30-point triple-double in the Nuggets’ 135-122 win over Miami on Friday. The Nuggets’ depth has shone, with Jamal Murray adding 28 points against Miami, Christian Braun and Michael Porter Jr. each scoring 21. Jokić recorded his third straight triple-double while the team had four scorers hit the 20-point mark.
Head coach Jason Kidd expressed frustration with his team’s slow starts and rebounding struggles after Friday’s loss, where Phoenix secured 11 offensive boards, including a decisive one in the final seconds. “As deep as we are, we’ve got to get someone to f—ing participate off the bench,” Kidd said.
The Mavericks hope the road trip will foster team cohesion. Kyrie Irving said the trip presents an opportunity to build camaraderie, which he feels has been lacking since the preseason. “I just can’t wait until we have this road trip so we can build some of that much-needed camaraderie that we needed during preseason,” Irving said.
After Sunday, the Mavericks continue their trip against the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz.
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