Mavericks star Luka Dončić was dominated out of Dallas’ sport towards the Pelicans on Thursday after struggling a proper heel contusion within the third quarter. Here’s what you should know:
- The harm occurred with simply over seven minutes left within the third quarter, as Dončić took a tough fall to the court docket after leaping for a dunk. He tried to stay within the sport however exited to the locker room shortly after.
- Dončić recorded 31 factors, eight rebounds and 4 assists Thursday earlier than the harm.
- He suffered a left ankle sprain within the first quarter of Dallas’ 99-95 win over the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 26 however returned to score 53 points in a win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
- Dallas improved to 28-25 after the 111-106 win over New Orleans.
The Athletic’s immediate evaluation:
How have the Mavericks been with out Dončić this season?
Dallas has misplaced all six video games that Dončić hasn’t performed on this season, together with one final weekend towards the Utah Jazz after Dončić suffered his ankle sprain towards Phoenix. The group’s roster isn’t properly geared up to play with out him as a result of it leaves Spencer Dinwiddie as the one shot creator trusted on the roster. This has been true for the reason that previous summer season, when Jalen Brunson left and wasn’t meaningfully changed.
As seen from Thursday’s collapse following Dončić’s harm, Dallas is a distinct — and far worse — group with out their talismanic star on the court docket. One statistic that I feel exhibits it clearly is that this: The Mavericks common 120.6 factors per 100 possessions when Dončić’s on the ground and simply 107.7 factors per 100 possessions with out him. In different phrases, they’d rank first in offense with Dončić and lifeless final with out him should you solely counted these minute samples.
The Mavericks could have survived to beat the Pelicans due to the lead they’d constructed, however they gained’t win many video games that Dončić isn’t out there for this season. — Cato
Required studying
(Photo: Jerome Miron / USA Today)
