PHILADELPHIA — When the Dallas Mavericks take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, they will do so with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the lineup. The superstar duo will play their 23rd game together this season as the team seeks to improve its 26-23 record as the NBA All-Star break looms.
The Mavs submitted an updated injury report on Monday afternoon, designating Irving (right thumb sprain), Doncic (right ankle soreness), and Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) as available to play against the Sixers. Dereck Lively II (nasal fracture) and Dante Exum (right knee bursitis) remain out.
Irving was expected to return to the Mavs' lineup since he was initially designated as probable to play after a six-game absence. He confirmed his return when speaking to reporters at the morning shootaround at Wells Fargo Center.
"I've had a lot of support from my teammates and the coaching staff," Irving told reporters. "I'm grateful I can be active tonight and give it a go."
Doncic was initially considered questionable to play with right ankle soreness and was in high spirits at the Mavs morning shootaround. He briefly went to the locker room in the first quarter of Saturday's loss against the Milwaukee Bucks after he was slow to get up after fighting for a loose ball. He played through it and has managed a right ankle injury for quite some time now.
“It’s the same ankle. I heard it pop," Doncic said after the loss against the Bucks. "It’s pretty strong now. If it was last year, it would’ve been worse. But this year, I work on it every day, so it’s stronger.”
Lively underwent surgery on Monday in Dallas to repair his nasal fracture, making it impossible for him to play for the Mavs in Philadelphia. It remains to be seen how soon he will return to the team's lineup, considering the recovery process will be based on how he feels after the procedure.
"We're still going to try to be able to figure out what I'm going to be doing moving forward," Lively said on Friday. "But to say this now, I will have a procedure on Monday to reset my nose since it is broken."
No new information exists about Exum's status as he has a knee injury. He did a workout in Philadelphia wearing a practice jersey but last played on January 26 during Doncic's 73-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks. He is set to miss a fifth consecutive game and has played three games since January 1.
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