Mavericks' Luka Dončić 'Most Likely' to Not Play Against Bucks in Preseason Finale
Luka Dončić’s status for the Mavericks’ preseason finale vs. Bucks is uncertain as he ramps up toward a return to competition ahead of the regular season.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are set to conclude their preseason schedule against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday. It’s unlikely that Luka Dončić or Maxi Kleber will be available for the matchup.
Head coach Jason Kidd suggested that while Dončić participated fully in Wednesday’s practice, his status for the preseason finale remains uncertain.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, but he did the whole practice and did really, really well,” Kidd said. “Most likely, he probably won’t participate tomorrow. A lot of positives for him to go through practice, but we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
The Mavericks are naturally being cautious with Dončić ahead of the regular season. He went through two lengthy workouts on Monday at Intuit Dome before the team faced the LA Clippers—one after shootaround and another in pre-game. He appears to be in his regular form already.
Kleber, meanwhile, continued to do non-contact work as he continued recovering from a left ankle sprain. The team has been cautious with his return, and he is unlikely to play against the Bucks.
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Despite Dončić and Kleber likely sitting out the entire four-game preseason, Kidd expressed optimism about the team’s progress and praised the positives he observed during practice.
“No, it’s not a big deal. It is what it is,” Kidd noted. “He practiced today, and we move forward from what he did today. A lot of positives for him to go through the whole practice. He looked good. To your point, he hasn’t forgotten how to play basketball. His ability to make plays for others and for himself looked good, and we were all happy to see him out there. Klay and Kyrie did the whole practice. They were great. So, a lot of good stuff today.”
The Mavericks are continuing to adjust after adding Klay Thompson to the roster this offseason. While the team has yet to see Thompson play alongside Dončić and Kyrie Irving against external competition, his integration remains a priority. P.J. Washington offered insight into how Thompson has been handling the transition.
“I think he’s been doing great,” Washington said. “Obviously, it’s been tough not playing with Luka and Kyrie, but just trying to learn our plays, learn spots, and get into spacing. I think it’ll come for him. As soon as those guys get back out there, it’s gonna be a lot easier for everybody.”
In addition to Kleber’s limited activity, the Mavericks were without Kessler Edwards, who did not practice due to a left ankle sprain, and Danté Exum, who remains sidelined after undergoing wrist surgery.
Initially, Kidd had planned to use the preseason finale as a “dress rehearsal” for the regular season opener, but he remains encouraged by how the Mavericks are shaping up, even without all their key players on the floor.
“We’ve seen what we needed up to this point,” Kidd said. “This last one won’t be the dress rehearsal we hoped for, with everyone playing, but we’ve been in this situation before, and we can draw from that. As long as everyone is trending in the right direction, which they are, it’s positive.”
The team also took a step forward with one of its first full practices involving Dončić and Irving, a milestone noted by Washington.
“I think last year this might have been the first practice we’ve all been back healthy and playing, so it was great for us to get that, and it’s exciting to see Luka and Kyrie back out there with us,” he said.
The Mavericks start their regular season later than most, opening on Oct. 24 against the Spurs, giving them extra time to prepare after most teams tip off on Oct. 22.
“With our schedule opening on the 24th instead of the 22nd, we get a couple more days to get healthy and build that chemistry,” Kidd said.
As the Mavericks wrap up preseason play, they aim to finalize rotations and build cohesion, using extra practice days to integrate Dončić, Thompson, and the rest of the team.
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