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UPDATE: Aug. 24, 2:27 p.m. — Doncic is being listed as probable for Game 5 vs. the Clippers on Tuesday. Kristaps Porzingis is questionable, while Trey Burke is also probable.
Mavericks media notes for Game 5 list @kporzee as questionable with right knee soreness. Doncic and Burke (both with left ankle sprains) are listed as probable.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) August 24, 2020
Burke ended up starting for Porzingis in Game 4. If Porzingis is out again, both Doncic and Burke are very good tournament options on DraftKings.
UPDATE: Aug. 23, 2:29 p.m. — Doncic will be available to play in Game 4 vs. the Clippers on Sunday afternoon.
Mavericks star Luka Doncic (ankle sprain) will play in Game 4 against the Clippers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 23, 2020
Doncic is an interesting leverage play with so many lineups worrying about his ankle in this game. He’s good to play so he should be starting and there isn’t any reason to believe he’ll be held back. If he wasn’t 100%, why would the Mavericks roll him out there and risk further injury? So I’d fire up Doncic in GPPs, but avoid him in cash lineups. Seth Curry and THJ don’t become as viable value plays with Doncic in there. Porzingis doesn’t change much in my eyes, still a good tourney play.
UPDATE: Aug. 22, 12:49 p.m. — Doncic is being listed as questionable to play in Game 4 vs. the Clippers on Sunday. He injured his ankle in the loss in Game 3, though it seemed like he would have been able to finish the game. Below are some plays outlined in the scenario Doncic is ruled out.
Mavs are listing Luka Doncic (left ankle sprain) as questionable for Game 4 in the notes released by the team PR staff.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) August 22, 2020
Dallas Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic injured his ankle in a tough loss in Game 3 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Mavs coach Rick Carlise said after the game he wasn’t sure what Doncic’s status was moving forward.
Rick Carlisle: "Unsure of the exact severity of Luka's left ankle. ... We'll know more tomorrow. He did come back and try it obviously and wasn't moving great, so we'll see where he is come tomorrow and then Sunday morning."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) August 22, 2020
This appears to be the same ankle Doncic has had problems with earlier in the season. It’s been the one thing that has somewhat held him back early in his career. Despite the injury Friday, Luka was able to stick it out a bit before the Mavs were cautious with him. He still finished with a triple-double, though Dallas dropped the game and is down 2-1 in the series. We’ll see if Doncic can give it a go on Sunday for Game 4. Chances are he’ll get smacked with the questionable tag.
If Doncic ends up missing Game 4, well, this could be it for the Mavs’ season. In terms of fantasy, Kristaps Porzingis will be popular but may not be the direct pivot in DFS. Porzingis’ value should go up slightly, but so will his price. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Seth Curry benefit the most from Doncic being sidelined. It’s also a decent boost for Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith.
Curry scored 22 points and played over 30 minutes in Game 4. He’ll likely be chalk for Sunday’s slate. Trey Burke could see additional playing time at PG as well. The dynamic of the Mavs offense and the way the Clippers defend them will be interesting. Los Angeles should be able to be more physical like Game 3 and that could hurt Dallas from the get-go. It’ll be interesting to see how the line would shift if Doncic is ruled out.