Injured star Luka Doncic will join the Dallas Mavericks on their next trip, which begins Saturday in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz.
After missing the last five games due to a wrist injury, Doncic returned to practice with his teammates on Friday and “looked good,” according to coach Jason Kidd. Doncic is officially listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game; Dallas plays the Trail Blazers in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday.
Unlike last season, when the Mavericks won just four of 12 games in Doncic’s absence, Dallas has fared well without its best player since he was injured Nov. 19 against New Orleans. The Mavs are 4-1 in that stretch, including a 129-119 win at Atlanta on Monday and Wednesday’s 129-114 win over the New York Knicks.
Remarkably, Dallas had four players score at least 20 points in each of those most recent wins, setting a team record. Against the Knicks, Naji Marshall scored 24, Kyrie Irving scored 23 and Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie each scored 21.
Marshall has been particularly effective in Doncic’s absence. He has averaged 23 points on 63.3% shooting and made half of his 3-point attempts over the last four games.
Dallas’ depth has been instrumental to its 11-8 record. The Mavs have had at least six players reach double figures in each of their last six games. In the Mavericks’ 123-120 win over Denver on Nov. 22, seven players scored in double figures.
Field Level Media contributed to this report.
