MILWAUKEE — After suffering a moderate ankle sprain Saturday, Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic already has shed his crutches and walking boot, coach Rick Carlisle said.
“He is responding well to treatment,” Carlisle said before the Mavericks game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. “He is progressing well.”
Carlisle said that Doncic will not play on Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics. Doncic did not travel with the team to Milwaukee, instead staying behind to work with the training staff.
“If there is an update, it will be Wednesday night,” Carlisle said. “It might not be much of an update at that point, but he’s doing well.”
Doncic, 20, might be able to return within a couple of weeks, league sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on Sunday. He sprained his right ankle in the first quarter of the Mavericks’ 122-118 loss to the Miami Heat. Doncic stepped on Heat guard Kendrick Nunn‘s foot while driving to the basket.
Doncic was the 2018-19 Rookie of the Year. He is averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game this season and leads the league with eight triple-doubles. Doncic has catapulted himself into the MVP conversation this season.
In Doncic’s absence, the Mavericks are expected to start Dorian Finney-Smith, Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson against the Bucks.