For someone like Luka Doncic, there was no other way to return from a relatively long layoff than with a huge performance.
Doncic missed six of the Dallas Mavericks’ last seven games due to a sprained right wrist and a right knee contusion. The wrist sprain was more bothersome as it forced Doncic, normally one to play through some injuries, to miss a handful of games. When he returned, though, it was as if he never left.
Against the Portland Trail Blazers, Doncic immediately made his presence felt by scoring and assisting the Mavs’ first 12 points and finished with a game-high 36 points, seven rebounds, 13 assists, and three steals. There were no signs of rust from him, save perhaps for his free throw shooting, but it nonetheless felt that the five-time All-Star did not miss a beat despite sitting out for much of two weeks.
Doncic followed that up with another strong performance against the Memphis Grizzlies, helping seal a come-from-behind 121-116 victory over the Grizzlies. Early on, it was Doncic who kept Dallas afloat with 24 points in the first half, but he still ended up with 37 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block even as his Mavs teammates knocked down the big shots down the stretch.
Big games have become the norm for Doncic, who scored a career-high 73 points last season. There are moments where his efficiency can get compromised, but that’s the cost of being frequently double-teamed and having a defensive scheme devoted to you. After all, he’s one of the best despite facing a bevy of pressure.
Moreover, Doncic’s playmaking ability is infectious, as his teammates also get on in keeping the ball movement. While Doncic was out, Dallas compensated by relying on each other (and did so well) but with their franchise player back in the fold, the passing has continued. Everyone got to touch the ball on most possessions and it has allowed them to find the best shot possible. The passing clearly paid off down the stretch against the Blazers as key passes led to crucial baskets and in turn, the victory.
Doncic returned at the right time considering how the Western Conference has gotten tighter. As of this writing, five games separate the top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and the 10th-place San Antonio Spurs. Dallas currently find themselves in third place at 14-8, and have won their last four games, the longest active win streak in the West. The rest of their schedule for the year also remains manageable, with only the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, and the Minnesota Timberwolves posing a big threat. So the time to set themselves apart is now.
The Mavs being on a winning run allowed Doncic to take his time with his recovery and that will be important for their season outlook. The accumulation of Doncic’s minor injuries in the last two years along with the mileage from playing for both Dallas and the Slovenian national team certainly factored into the Mavs coming up short against the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals. Now, they hope to avoid the same fate.
Knowing Luka Doncic, however, he’s not the type to make any excuses. Doncic will show up battered and bruised when the lights are brightest and when he really has to sit out, the five-time All-NBA selection will return with a bang.
