The exhausting regular season of the NBA continues and as a part of the schedule, tonight the Dallas Mavericks will take on the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. The Mavericks are enduring an inconsistent run but will enter the arena tonight at the back of a win against the Wizards. However, the Mavericks' strength is still doused down because of the injuries it has suffered. Thus, will the problem persist for Jason Kidd today as well or is there any positive development in the offing? In short, is Luka Doncic going to play against the Pelicans tonight?
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Luka Doncic Injury Report
Luka Doncic is still nursing the injury he suffered on his left calf during the Christmas Day encounter against the Minnesota Timberwolves, hence, the star guard will not feature tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans. It goes without saying that Doncic has a towering presence on the court. Before getting injured, the 31-year-old averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. Thus, the impact was always going to be palpable, and it is visible as Dallas has won only six of its last 18 games. While the team is struggling in the absence of its star man, Luka Doncic is set to return soon. According to reports, the Slovenian can mark his comeback before the All-Star break.
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Dallas Mavericks Injury Report
Besides Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks injury report includes five more men. Here's the list of individuals from the Mavericks' squad who are facing injury of some sort:
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Naji Marshall: Questionable (Illness)
Danté Exum: Doubtful (Right Wrist Surgery)
Luka Dončić: Out (Left Calf Strain)
Dwight Powell: Out (Right Hip Strain)
Maxi Kleber: Out (Right Foot Fracture)
While Doncic's absence always comes out to be conspicuous, with the Pelicans facing a horrid run (12-35) and languishing at the second-last position on the Western Conference table, the Mavericks will enter as the favourites to take the "W" tonight. Moreover, as Klay Thompson has returned to form and Kyrie Irving also looking sharp, the away side should get the job done tonight.