Luka Doncic Injury Report: Mavericks Star Ready for Western Conference Finals
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
The Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves are set to clash on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. This highly anticipated series between the fifth-seeded Mavericks and third-seeded Timberwolves promises to be thrilling, especially considering the Timberwolves’ dramatic comeback in Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets, where they overcame a 20-point deficit.
After a grueling 82-game regular season and two intense playoff series, both teams are dealing with injuries. Mavericks’ star guard Luka Doncic is managing a knee sprain but reassures reporters, saying, “I’m good." The Timberwolves will host the Mavericks in this opening game, having won the regular-season series 3-1. In their last regular-season matchup on February 1, Minnesota dominated Dallas 121-87, led by Karl-Anthony Towns’ 29 points.
The Timberwolves have a strong record of 37-15 against Western Conference opponents and are known for their resilience, holding a 7-6 record in games decided by three points or fewer. Conversely, the Mavericks are 31-21 against Western Conference teams and rank seventh in the NBA, scoring 117.9 points per game with a shooting percentage of 48.1%.
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Minnesota’s offensive efficiency has been slightly better, shooting 48.5% from the field compared to the 47.5% the Mavericks allow their opponents. The Mavericks, on the other hand, are shooting 48.1%, which is notably higher than the 45.0% allowed by Timberwolves’ opponents this season.
Key players to watch include Anthony Edwards for the Timberwolves, who is shooting 46.1% and averaging 25.9 points per game. Mike Conley has also been a significant contributor, averaging 2.1 made three-pointers over the last 10 games. For the Mavericks, Kyrie Irving is averaging 25.6 points and 5.2 assists, while Luka Doncic, despite the injury concerns, is putting up impressive numbers with 26.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, shooting 42.3% over the past 10 games.
As these two teams take the court, fans can expect a competitive and hard-fought series, with both squads looking to capitalize on their strengths and advance to the NBA Finals.
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