The Dallas Mavericks secured a pivotal victory against the Los Angeles Clippers with a 101-90 win in Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs, propelling them to a 2-1 series lead.
However, the triumph was tempered by an injury scare involving Mavericks’ standout player Luka Doncic.
During the first quarter of the intense matchup, Doncic appeared to injure his knee, prompting a brief retreat to the locker room. Despite concerns, he swiftly returned to the court to continue his contribution to the game.
Luka Doncic said his knee is “not good” but they’ll know more tomorrow.
He injured his knee in the first half, but finished the game. pic.twitter.com/Y8Eun6l4YJ
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) April 27, 2024
Post-game, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd played down the incident, stating, “I don’t know if he was hurt. I don’t think he ever left the bench.”
Doncic’s return to the game was nothing short of remarkable, as he displayed resilience and determination, nearly achieving a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. However, his shooting performance suffered, as he struggled from the field, converting only 7-of-25 attempts.
Speaking about the condition of his knee after the game, Doncic expressed his discomfort, stating, “Yeah, not good. I felt that before I hit the knee. So, it’s pretty stiff right now. We’ll know more tomorrow. But, you know me I’ll try to go anyways.”
As an MVP finalist this season, Doncic plays a pivotal role in the Mavericks’ offensive strategy. Any limitations due to his injury would undoubtedly pose a significant challenge to Dallas’ championship aspirations.
