Luka Doncic injury puts playoff status in doubt as Mavericks top Spurs

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Luka Doncic wouldn't have even played in what turned out to be a meaningless regular-season finale for the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks without a reprieve from the NBA.

The superstar was minutes away from being finished for the night against San Antonio when he strained his left calf. Now the Mavericks wait to see when, perhaps even if, their 23-year-old All-Star will play in a first-round series against Utah beginning Saturday.

Doncic left Dallas' 130-120 victory Sunday night with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter, shortly after pulling up and stopping when he turned to run to the defensive end. He called for the medical staff as he reached for the calf, and quickly went to the locker room after play was stopped.

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Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) reaches for his lower leg after suffering an unknown lower leg injury in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Sunday, April 10, 2022, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Coach Jason Kidd said he planned to sit Doncic the rest of the game after he played the entire third quarter, which is part of his normal rotation. He had also played all of the first quarter and part of the second, also the norm.

Among several ominous signs for the Mavericks was this: When he left with the injury, Doncic was leading the Mavericks in points (26), assists (nine) and rebounds (eight). He still was at game's end.

"Hopefully it's not too serious," said Kidd, who said he hadn't met with Doncic or the head of the club's medical staff, Casey Smith, before talking to reporters after the game.

The fourth-seeded Mavericks could have