NBA

Mavericks star Luka Doncic downgraded to questionable for Game 2 of NBA Finals

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5 months ago

June 9, 2024

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Mavericks star Luka Doncic downgraded to questionable for Game 2 of NBA Finals

The Mavericks’ top star’s status for Game 2 of the NBA Finals is in question.

Luka Doncic was downgraded from probable to questionable hours ahead of Sunday’s game, the Mavericks announced. A thoracic contusion was added to the list of ailments that Doncic has already been dealing with on Sunday’s injury report.

It’s unclear when Doncic suffered the thoracic contusion. However, he was seen at Saturday’s practice grabbing at his chest and rib cage at points.

Doncic has already been on the Mavericks’ injury report for much of the postseason, dealing with a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness. The knee sprain occurred in Game 3 of the Mavericks’ first-round series win over the Clippers.

After suffering the knee sprain in late April, Doncic told reporters that it was “not good.” But he’s yet to miss a game this postseason, scoring 28.8 points with 9.7 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game in the playoffs.

Doncic was arguably the lone bright spot for the Mavericks’ offense in the Celtics’ 107-89 Game 1 win. He scored 30 points on 12 of 26 shooting (4 of 12 from deep) with 10 rebounds. But he only had one assist, a playoff career-low, with just six assist opportunities. He scored 30-plus points in both regular-season matchups against the Celtics as well, averaging 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists over those two games.

If Doncic isn’t able to suit up for Sunday’s Game 2, it would mark the fourth-straight series that the Celtics have avoided playing one of their opponents’ top two scorers. They didn’t face Jimmy Butler when they took on the Heat in the opening round. Donovan Mitchell missed two games in the Celtics’ second-round series against the Cavaliers in Round 2. Tyrese Haliburton also missed two games in the Celtics’ Eastern Conference finals sweep of the Pacers.

The Celtics have also dealt with a notable injury themselves this postseason. But they’re at full strength now in the NBA Finals, getting Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup after he missed 10 games due to a soleus strain. Boston doesn’t have anyone listed on its injury report and Porzingis expects to play off the bench again in Game 2 after scoring 20 points in Game 1.

Following Sunday’s Game 2, there will be two days of rest before each game except for Game 4, allowing Doncic extra time to rest. The Celtics will look to take a 2-0 series lead Sunday.

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