DALLAS — Luka Doncic endured an injury scare on Friday during Game 3. He fortunately returned and helped Dallas earn a pivotal 101-90 win, but he admitted that his knee was “stiff” following the victory. Head coach Jason Kidd shut down concerns over Doncic's apparent injury on Saturday, but he was still listed on the injury report for Game 4 before being ruled available just before the pivotal contest.
Teams tend to proceed with caution when it comes to knee concerns. However, Kidd had made it seem likely that Doncic would play on Sunday. Additionally, Luka wants to be on the court for a crucial Game 4 affair.
If the Mavs can earn the win, they will clinch a 3-1 series lead before heading back to Los Angeles. A loss would not only even the series at two games apiece, but it would provide the Clippers with home-court advantage once again.
The Mavs currently have momentum after winning the second and third games of the series, but the Clippers are one good victory away from being right back in this series.
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Mavericks injury report for Game 4 vs. Clippers
Luka Doncic was listed as questionable for Game 4 due to right knee soreness and was said to be a game-time decision on Sunday before getting the go-ahead. Tim Hardaway Jr., who missed Friday's game with an ankle injury, was upgraded to doubtful before being ruled out. Olivier-Maxence Prosper is out with an ankle injury.
It's no surprise Doncic is giving it a go in Game 4. Kidd sounded confident while speaking to reporters on Saturday, and sure enough, the star is ready to play.
One important element of Doncic's game is his toughness. He wants to be on the floor regardless of the circumstances.
From a performance standpoint, Doncic has yet to have any jaw-dropping performances in the 2024 postseason. He has certainly had some clutch moments, and the Mavericks would not be leading 2-1 in the series without him.
Of course, Doncic's standards are quite high. He's still had a pair of 30-plus point games and he is consistently helping out in other areas as well. In fact, Luka's impressive defensive effort has been one of the primary storylines in the series.
Luka Doncic is doing what it takes to win games. He understands when it is time to be aggressive on offense, but he's also more than willing to find an open teammate.
Game 4 projects to be a competitive affair. Los Angeles is going to challenge Dallas even without Kawhi Leonard, as the Clippers will obviously want to avoid a 3-1 series deficit. Meanwhile, the Mavericks will attempt to utilize their momentum on Sunday.
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