Luka Doncic sprains left ankle

By HoopsHype | January 27, 2023

Luka Doncic sprained his left ankle, stepping on a defender’s foot while pivoting in the post, about three minutes into the first quarter. He limped down the court before director of player health and performance Casey Smith walked him back to the locker room. Game-ending injury to the 23-year-old superstar on top of the Mavericks’ five-losses-in-six-games skid? No doubt all fans’ worst fear.Source: Callie Caplan @ Dallas Morning News What’s the buzz on Twitter? Callie Caplan @CallieCaplanSpencer Dinwiddie on scoring 36 points (10-18 FG) after Luka Doncic’s injury: “Try to just be a juggernaut. Like, just full force.” – 1:41 AM Callie Caplan @CallieCaplanSpencer Dinwiddie on Luka Doncic’s ankle injury: “It ain’t no cause for where we’re like, ‘Oh no, we’re about to go on a 10-game stretch without LD.’ He’s going to heal up nicely. He’s a young kid. Although the likes to think he’s old, he’s not.”dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 1:33 AM Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavsIt won’t go into the books as a win w/o Luka since he played the first 3:21 before getting hurt, but this will go into the books as arguably, the Mavs most satisfying win of the season. Hopefully Luka’s ankle isn’t too bad, but the rest of the team proved something to themselves – 1:12 AM Mark Followill @MFollowillThe 4 games the Mavs have won on national TV exclusives have all been pretty dramatic. Golden State, two vs the Lakers and 99-95 tonight in Phoenix. After Luka was injured and his night ended a little over 3 mins into the game, Spencer Dinwiddie provided a season high 36 pts. – 12:59 AM Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavsWhat does my boy @MrChrisArnold always say? “Ya Never Know.” Mavs get monster game from Dinwiddie (Mavs hi tying 36 w/6 rebs & 9 assts), 1st dbl-dbl of the season from DFS (18-12) and a clutch off reb/2 FTs from Powell to win in PHX for 1st time since Nov 2019. And all w/o Luka. – 12:58 AM Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetMonty Williams hit the nail on the head with the Suns’ inability to stop this Mavs team, even without Luka: At some point, they need to “sit down and guard” the guy with the ball. They’ve continually been unable to do so against Dallas – 12:52 AM Eddie Sefko @ESefkoHappy for Finney-Smith, Dinwiddie and Powell, all of whom played out of their minds. And the defense was legit in the first scoreless game of Luka’s career. Winning without him (for all but 3-plus minutes) is going to do wonders for this team’s overall confidence. – 12:39 AM Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahonBig win for the Mavs after Luka Doncic’s early exit. Heck of a time for Spencer Dinwiddie to come up with his best performance in a Mavs uniform. – 12:37 AM Brad Townsend @townbradPowell’s hustle literally saved a great effort by Dallas night. Technically the Mavs are still 0-5 in games w/o Doncic, but we all know this game was won w/o Doncic. – 12:34 AM Eddie Sefko @ESefkoDwight Powell with two massive free throws on top of a couple key offensive rebounds. It’s been a terrific game for a lot of Mavericks with Luka out. They are up 99-95 with 9.8 left. – 12:34 AM Callie Caplan @CallieCaplanDon’t think the Mavs’ bench will get fined this time, but they’re up and so into this game like last year’s playoffs.They might downplay the effect of Luka’s injury after the game, but they are *hype* for these last few minutes. – 12:15 AM Kellan Olson @KellanOlsonDinwiddie banks in the Luka stepback. Timeout Suns. Only a nine-point deficit with 3:32 to go but that felt like the dagger. – 12:14 AM Eddie Sefko @ESefkoSpencer Dinwiddie having a terrific night with 30 points in 31 minutes through three quarters. He’s also got eight assists and six rebounds. Mavericks are up 76-69 going into the fourth and have a great shot to steal this one without Luka. – 11:55 PM Chuck Cooperstein @coopmavsThe story is Luka spraining is left ankle 3 minutes in and leaving for the night. Spencer Dinwiddie is trying to amend the story as he did a fair Luka impression 20-4-6. His 11th career 20 pt half (3rd w/Mavs inc 22 at CHI this yr) Mavs lead PHX 54-48. 2nd half soon @971TheFreak – 11:19 PM Callie Caplan @CallieCaplanSpencer Dinwiddie in Q2: 10 points and 2 assists for 4 more.Mavs lead Suns 54-48 at halftime without Luka Doncic for the last 21 minutes. – 11:13 PM Brad Townsend @townbradIn case you’re wondering, Doncic entered tonight with a 33.75-point scoring average. After tonight it’ll be 33.0. – 11:00 PM Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynesDallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic suffered a left ankle sprain and is out the remainder of this game against Phoenix Suns. X-Ray negative. – 10:43 PM Callie Caplan @CallieCaplanCasey Smith and Nico Harrison just walked out from the Mavs’ tunnel together. No Luka Doncic.Expect an update from PR soon. – 10:43 PM Tim Cato @tim_catothe mavericks would have the league’s best offense (120.4 off rating) if you only counted the minutes with luka on the floor. they’d have the league’s worst offense (107.8) if you only counted the minutes without him. you don’t see margins this big very often. – 10:32 PM Brad Townsend @townbradDoncic got his feet tangled with Cam Johnson. Just when it seemed things couldn’t get much worse for the Mavs, Doncic limps off. – 10:22 PM Kellan Olson @KellanOlsonLots of trust in Johnson to give him the Doncic assignment. Allows Bridges to be in a help spot off the traps.Mavs’ defense looks as advertised so far! – 10:19 PM Callie Caplan @CallieCaplanMavs who received All-Star starter votes from players:Luka Doncic: 149Christian Wood: 23Spencer Dinwiddie: 16Dorian Finney-Smith: 4Tim Hardaway Jr.: 1Reggie Bullock: 1Dwight Powell: 1McKinley Wright IV: 1Also ex-Mav and current free-agent Kemba Walker: 1 – 8:53 PM Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_JohnsonNBA players voted Steph Curry as the No. 2 guard in the West behind Luka Doncic. They had Jordan Poole 22 among guards and Klay Thompson 25Draymond Green was ranked 14 in the West frontcourt. Andrew Wiggins was 19 and Kevon Looney was 28 – 8:42 PM Callie Caplan @CallieCaplanWhat a difference a year and a fully healthy, in-shape first half of the season makes for Luka Doncic:1st in All-Star starter voting for player and media ballots, 2nd for fans this season.Last year, Luka finished outside the top 2 in all categories for West’s 2 guard spots. – 8:34 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbarShai Gilgeous-Alexander finished 4th in fan, player & media voting.Only behind Luka, Curry and Ja, three of the biggest superstars in the NBA.Ahead of Dame, Booker, Edwards and Fox.And to think… at this time last year, SGA was ranked lower than Talen Horton-Tucker. pic.twitter.com/kiargip4zJ – 8:33 PM Mark Followill @MFollowillLuka Dončić was named an All-Star Game starter tonight. He ties Ro Blackman for second most all-star appearances by a Mavs player at 4 and his 3rd start surpasses the 2 ASGs that Dirk started. 4 time all-stars before turning 24 are Luka, Kobe, LeBron, Shaq, Isiah & Anthony Davis. – 7:38 PM Malika Andrews @malika_andrewsWestern Conference All Star starters:LeBron James (captain)Steph CurryLuka DončićNikola JokićZion WilliamsonEastern ConferenceGiannis Antetokounmpo (captain)Jayson TatumKevin DurantKyrie IrvingDonovan Mitchell – 7:19 PM Malika Andrews @malika_andrewsWestern Conference All Star starters:Stephen Curry (captain)Luka DončićLeBron JamesNikola JokićZion WilliamsonEastern ConferenceGiannis Antetokounmpo (captain)Jayson TatumKevin DurantKyrie IrvingDonovan Mitchell – 7:18 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBAFull All-Star Starters:Eastern ConferenceGiannis Antetokounmpo (captain)Kevin DurantJayson TatumKyrie IrvingDonovan MitchellWestern ConferenceLeBron James (captain)Nikola JokicZion WilliamsonStephen CurryLuka Doncic14 reserves as voted on by NBA coaches to come. – 7:16 PM Kristian Winfield @KrisplashedEast All-Star Starters:Giannis AntetokounmpoJayson TatumKevin DurantDonovan MitchellKyrie IrvingWest All-Star Starters:LeBron James (captain)Stephen CurryLuka DoncicNikola JokicZion Williamson#NBA – 7:16 PM Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas462023 #NBAAllStar startersWestern Conference:LeBron JamesZion WilliamsonSteph CurryLuka DoncicNikola JokicEastern Conference:Giannis AntetokounmpoKevin DurantJayson TatumKyrie IrvingDonovan MitchellIt’s gonna be Team LeBron vs Team Giannis – 7:14 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbarWest All Star starters:Luka DoncicSteph CurryLeBron JamesZion WilliamsonNikola Jokic—Should’ve been West All Star starters:Luka DoncicShai Gilgeous-AlexanderLeBron JamesDomantas SabonisNikola Jokic – 7:09 PM Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was NOT named an All-Star starterThe West starters:Steph CurryLuka DoncicLeBron JamesZion WilliamsonNikola Jokic – 7:09 PM Howard Beck @HowardBeckWestern Conference All-Star starters, per @NBA via @NBAonTNT:Frontcourt: LeBron James (captain), Nikola Jokic, Zion WilliamsonBackcourt: Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic – 7:09 PM Ben Golliver @BenGolliver2023 NBA All-Star GameWestern Conference starters– LeBron James, Lakers (Captain)– Nikola Jokic, Nuggets– Zion Williamson, Pelicans– Stephen Curry, Warriors– Luka Doncic, Mavericks – 7:09 PM Marc Stein @TheSteinLineThere have now been 17 games this season in which an NBA player has scored at least 50 points … including Donovan Mitchell’s 71-point game and 60-pointers for Luka Dončić and Damian Lillard.There were 19 50-point games last season.More NBA from me: marcstein.Substack.com – 3:15 PM Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin“Heck of a player and rightfully so he’s in that conversation for MVP.”Jock Landale on Luka Doncic as #Suns face #Mavs tonight to end 5-game homestand.Both teams 25-24. Split two regular season games. Suns won home opener, Mavs won Dec. 5 at home.Final one March 5 in Dallas pic.twitter.com/egCemQEjZY – 2:07 PM Micah Adams @MicahAdams13Dame, Luka, Mitchell all have 60-point games.That is tied for the most 60-point scorers in a single season in NBA history.Its just the 4th time three players have dropped 60, joining…2021: Curry, Tatum, Beal1990: Jordan, Malone, Chambers1962: Wilt, West, Baylor – 9:19 AM More on this storyline Callie Caplan: Luka Doncic’s history with ankle sprains: 2021-22 season: — 3 games out after left knee/ankle sprains — 6 more games out weeks later (left ankle soreness) to fully heal — 1 game out with right ankle sprain 2019-20 season: — 11 games out (in 2 stints) for right ankle sprains -via Twitter @CallieCaplan / January 27, 2023