No timetable on return of Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic as MRI confirms left calf strain

An MRI on Monday confirmed that Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic suffered a left calf strain in the regular-season finale, the team revealed.

No timetable has been set for Doncic’s recovery, but the Mavs have not ruled him out for Saturday afternoon’s Game 1 versus the Utah Jazz.

“If he’s able to go out and put on his shoes, then he’s going to go,” coach Jason Kidd said after Tuesday’s practice, when Doncic received treatment. “If he can’t, we’re not going to put him in a situation to jeopardize it and make things worse.”

Spencer Dinwiddie will start if Doncic is not available. Dinwiddie has averaged 15.8 points and 3.9 assists in 23 games for the Mavs, primarily serving as a sixth man since being acquired as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade in a deadline deal with the Washington Wizards.

“I know my usage would be up, but it’s a team effort,” Dinwiddie said. “I don’t expect to shoulder the load completely.”

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The Mavericks are the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Doncic grabbed his calf briefly after jumping to throw a pass and asked for a timeout with 2:24 left in the third quarter of Sunday’s 130-120 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. After a brief discussion with Mavs director of player health and performance Casey Smith, Doncic hobbled to the locker room and later received postgame treatment.

A photo of Doncic wearing a protective boot on his left foot as he walked into the hospital alongside Smith before the MRI on Monday afternoon was posted on Twitter.

Doncic, a first-team All-NBA selection the past two seasons, averaged 28.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game this season. He would have been suspended for the regular-season finale after being called for his 16th technical foul of the season in Friday’s rout of the Portland Trail Blazers, but the NBA office rescinded the technical on Saturday after a review.

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