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Anxiety for Luka Doncic. The Slovenian NBA star went out in the first quarter of the Dallas Mavericks' win against Phoenix with a left ankle injury. A sprain that did not allow him to continue the game, with the Texans' medical staff evaluating his conditions in the next few hours.
The player was immediately subjected to an MRI scan, which tested negative for fractures or ligament injuries but will still be re-evaluated in the next few hours: as ESPN's Tim MacMahon writes, his presence for Sunday's game against Utah is in strong doubt.
Doncic sprained his left ankle while trying to turn and free himself from a defender in the box: an unnatural movement that forced the Mavs to call a time-out just over four minutes into the first quarter. The Slovenian limped off the field, accompanied by members of the Dallas medical staff.
Jason Kidd, in the post-match press conference, explained: "For now we know little about his condition, we have to see how he is and what the doctors say in the next few days. We will know more close to the match against Utah, for now we just have to wait: he he was in a good mood, he seems fine but we'll see in the next few days."
Luka suffered an apparent ankle injury and is out for the remainder of the game vs.
the Suns. pic.twitter.com/IyTJCgY9xl — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 27, 2023
About Doncic
Considered one of the best European youngsters of all time, Doncic can play as a playmaker, guard or small forward thanks to his versatility.
He comes with a considerable amount of experience for being so young and this, combined with his physique, allows him to be a factor in all situations. He is a skilled striker, capable of creating from the dribble, playing the P&R to serve his teammates on the perimeter or assisting the roller or starting his own business and getting to the rim.
Doncic often plays in the post against smaller opponents. Furthermore, he is very good at absorbing contacts in the box, getting fouled a lot to go to the line and often looking for a foul and a basket. Defensively, he tends to be superficial at times but is good at reading opponents' intentions in advance.
Given his impact in the NBA he can be compared to Larry Bird. Thanks to the success of the Mavericks in the Texan derby against the Spurs, the Slovenian becomes the first player of any era to record 220 points, 50 rebounds and 50 assists in 5 games.
On December 28, 2022, he scored a monstrous triple double of 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, the first in history to do it. In the last 5 games of December 2022, Luka Doncic scored: 50 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists.
32 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists. 60 points, 21 rebounds, 10 assists. 35 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists. 51 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists. Averages: 45.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 10.2 assists.