Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic in action
Photo : AP
Dallas Mavericks will take on Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks got the better of Minnesota in game 1 and will start the game as the favourites.
Luka Doncic played a pivotal role as he led Dallas to a much needed victory in the first game at the Target Center.
The Slovenian chipped in with 33 points and also racked up eight assists to his name. Doncic was on the injury report in the last game too but started the game and went on to inflict major damage on the Timberwolves.
But ahead of the second game again, the Dallas guard again has been placed on the injury report.
As per the official NBA injury update, Doncic has a right knee sprain and also has a soreness in his left ankle.
“Luka Dončić (Right Knee Sprain; Left Ankle Soreness) is probable to play. Maxi Kleber (Right Shoulder; AC Separation) and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Left Ankle Sprain) are out.”
But in a major boost, another Dallas star Kyrie Irving is not carrying an injury and is likely to start the match. Irving came up with 30 points against the Wolves and the expectations will be pretty high when he takes the court in the next game.
Doncic has played through pain this season and he went on to be involved for almost 41 minutes in the last game. He suffered a fall in the 4th quarter while trying to put the ball in the basket.
It remains to be seen whether Doncic starts in the match and if he doesn’t Irving needs to shoulder added responsibility in the game. After the win over the Timberwolves he said he always wants to help the other guys in the team.
“I’ve been to the mountaintop. I’ve succeeded and I’ve also failed, so I look at this moment as an opportunity to help other guys really settle in and be aware of what comes with this.
“It’s just a new chapter of my life. I was a young man, and I think that people were holding on to my words and actions that I did then, but now being 32 years old, I’ve crossed over that mountain a little bit and been able to figure out that basketball’s a sport I was meant to play.
“In order to do that I’ve got to make other guys better, too. I can’t just be out there scoring and worrying about me.”