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The Dallas Mavericks have not ruled out All-Star Luka Doncic from Saturday’s NBA first round playoffs opening game against the Utah Jazz despite confirming a left calf strain.
Doncic limped from the court in Sunday’s win over the San Antonio Spurs, putting him in doubt ahead of the playoffs.
The Mavericks announced that an MRI on Monday had confirmed the superstar had suffered a strain in his calf but did not set a timetable on his recovery.
“If he’s able to go out and put on his shoes, then he’s going to go,” Mavs head coach Jason Kidd told reporters after Tuesday’s practice.
“If he can’t, we’re not going to put him in a situation to jeopardize it and make things worse.”
The Mavericks will turn to Spencer Dinwiddie to start if Doncic is unavailable. Doncic has an NBA-high 37 per cent usage rate this season.
Dinwiddie has averaged 15.8 points and 3.9 assists in 23 games for the Mavs since his trade deadline deal from the Washington Wizards.
Doncic averaged 28.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists this season.
