Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving questionable for the Dallas Mavericks game against the Warriors
The star duo remains unsure whether they will play together in the biggest game of the season for the Dallas Mavericks.
DALLAS — The number is 10. That is the number of games the Dallas Mavericks have left to figure out an identity and secure a spot in the NBA Playoffs.
And after another disappointing defeat on Monday to the Memphis Grizzlies, where Kyrie Irving struggled in the fourth quarter, and Jason Kidd watched his ball club cough up a 16-point lead, 10 games is far too few to work out all the kinks this roster possesses.
If not already pressed for time, the Mavericks received word that ahead of the most important game of the regular season against the Golden State Warriors, the Mavericks' star duo, Luka Doncic and Irving, is still clothed in uncertainty as to whether they will be able to play together come Wednesday night.
Doncic is still listed as questionable with a left thigh strain. And Irving, who suffered a setback after Memphis guard Dillon Brooks stepped on his already injured foot, is listed as questionable with right foot soreness.
Already Irving has missed time because of his pesky right foot. And after Monday's loss, he was seen wearing a walking boot as a "precautionary" measure.
“I just got to make it back home to Dallas and then start my recovery work and do everything I can to prepare for the next game I have,” Irving said. “Time to rest and exhaust all my options possible to be ready to play the next game.”
Meanwhile, Doncic has missed the last five games with his thigh issue. There was optimism around the team that the 24-year-old star would be able to return to the court during the Mavericks' homestand on Wednesday or Friday. But with no change in his injury status, that optimism may be waning quickly.
“He’s doing everything rehab on the court and off,” Kidd said. “He’s going in the right direction, so hopefully soon. Again, day-to-day, but I think these last couple of days have been really, really good, so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow. Continue to keep working and hopefully as you just brought up, he’s going to play in one of those home games.”
Even if Doncic and Irving return to the court on Wednesday, their track record when playing together is spotty at best. The Mavericks possess a 3-6 record when both are on the court, with the team struggling to defend at a high rate.
Still, having both stars on the floor is the Mavericks' best chance at securing needed wins in the crowded bottom half of the Western Conference. But it is clear the status of both playing in games this week is still to be decided.