After defeating the Sacramento Kings 132-96 on the road on March 27th, the Dallas Mavericks return to Sacramento as the No. 8 seed for their next showdown. Tomorrow's tip-off is set for 7pm at Golden 1 Center. The Mavs currently hold sixth place in the Western Conference standings, but the outcome of this rematch could have a major impact on the playoffs. The big question remains, can Mavs superstar Luka Doncic repeat his incredible performance against the Kings?
Doncic started Tuesday and had an impressive 28 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in just 32 minutes as the Mavs dominated the Kings. However, his participation in Friday's game is doubtful due to soreness in his left Achilles tendon. His latest injury report lists him as “questionable.” It was the same issue that led him to make a decision during Tuesday's game. Fortunately, he was actively upgraded and continued to fill out the stat sheet. Maxi Kleber also joined Doncic on the injury report, listing him as “questionable” with sore right knee. Josh Green is out with a sprained right ankle. Despite the injury concerns, fans are hopeful that Doncic will find a way to adapt.
Dallas Mavericks injury report vs. Sacramento Kings:
Luka Doncic – Questionable (left Achilles tendon pain)
Maxi Kleber – Doubtful (sore right knee)
Josh Green – Out (right ankle sprain)
Olivier-Maxence Prosper – Lost (G League)
Greg Brown III – Out (G League)
Brandon…— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 28, 2024
Doncic played in 63 games this season, averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.1 rebounds. He leads the NBA in scoring average and ranks third in assists per game. He continues to put up historic numbers, leading his team to a 40-23 record in his starting years.
So, not having Doncic tomorrow will be a tough wall for the Mavericks to overcome. In this example, Kyrie Irving will need to step up even more. Irving is averaging 31.5 points, 7.5 assists and 5.7 rebounds in six games this season without Doncic. Both players will continue to be important for the Mavs either way or together as the playoffs approach.
Dallas Mavs playoff photos
After a disappointing 2023 season that saw them fall from a potential top seed and miss the playoffs altogether, the pairing of Irving and Doncic appears to have finally found their rhythm. Injuries and instability plagued the team early this season, and the Mavs remained in the middle of the standings.
However, things started to turn around in the second half of the season. The big trade at the deadline addressed the weaknesses on the roster, and the Mavs have been on a roll ever since. Over their last 21 games, they have a league-best 15-6 record, driven by a strong offense and a focus on defense. The Mavericks have finally found a winning formula with their roster. Doncic and Irving will be the scoring sources, while Gafford, Washington, Green, Lively, Jones (his junior), Hardaway (his junior), and Kleber will provide a combination of defense and rebounding.
The road ahead is tough for the Mavs. After tonight's games against the Kings (42-30) and Dallas (43-29), the team will face several teams desperate for a playoff spot. The Mavs vs. Kings saga may be over, and a sweet No. 6 seed in the West may be decided. The Mavs are just one game behind the fourth-seeded Pelicans. The Suns, who are in 8th place, are holding their breath with only a half-game difference. And the Lakers, who are in 9th place, have a four-game difference and are making strides toward the end of the season. So barring a major collapse, a playoff spot seems pretty safe for the Mavs.
