Luka Doncic needs 'dramatic improvement' to play in Game 2

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Luka Doncic would need 'dramatic improvement' to be ready for Game 2

By Adam Stites | Last updated 4/17/22

The Dallas Mavericks were without star Luka Doncic when they lost Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz and the team will likely be without Doncic again in Game 2.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Doncic would need to make "dramatic improvement" in the next 24 hours to recover from his calf injury enough to play Monday night against the Jazz.

Doncic, 23, suffered a strained calf in the Mavericks' regular season finale on what looked like a relatively routine play against the San Antonio Spurs.

Luka Dončić exited the game after suffering a left calf strain. pic.twitter.com/aJ1uJPf68N
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 11, 2022

Dallas struggled to find offense against Utah without Doncic in the lineup and shot just .382 from the field and .281 from beyond the three-point arc. The Mavericks lost 99-93 and Jalen Brunson led the team in scoring with 24 points.

Doncic averaged 28.4 points, 8.7 assists, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals during the regular season, leading the Mavericks in all four categories. The fourth-year guard has made three consecutive NBA All-Star Games.

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