Luka Dončić ruled out vs. Thunder with a right knee contusion. Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson lead Mavericks against a shorthanded Oklahoma City squad.
OKLAHOMA CITY — After logging 28 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs during Saturday night’s 110-93 victory, Luka Dončić has been ruled out against the Oklahoma City Thunder as he continues to deal with a right knee contusion.
Dončić has been a frequent component of the Mavericks’ daily injury report. However, during the Mavericks’ recent three-game road trip, he was listed as probable to play with a left groin strain before the injury designation was changed to a right knee contusion, which he continues to be listed with now.
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When asked about his current health status after finishing with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, Dončić expressed that he feels “a little bit less” than 100%. He is confident it’ll improve, saying, “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.”
Dončić has averaged 29.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in 12 games this season, but his efficiency hasn’t been up to his usual standard. He’s shooting 42.8% from the floor, 32.0% from beyond the arc, and 81.0% from the free throw line.
Without Dončić in the lineup, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson will naturally take on crucial offensive roles to guide the unit. With such a significant amount of touches and shot attempts to account for without the Slovenian superstar active to play, bench guards like Jaden Hardy or Spencer Dinwiddie could see more opportunity.
Hardy had a strong performance off the bench with 12 points, adding 3 rebounds and 1 assist. “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 face a shorthanded Thunder squad with a severely depleted center rotation. Chet Holmgren (right iliac wing fracture), Isaiah Hartenstein (left hand fracture), and Jaylin Williams (right hamstring strain) have all been ruled out. Oklahoma City will also be without Alex Caruso (right hip strain).
The game is an early tipoff at 6 p.m. CST at Paycom Center, marking the conclusion of a back-to-back for the Mavericks.
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