The Dallas Mavericks have turned things around in the final stretch of the season. They are on a 5-game winning streak and got two crucial back-to-back road wins against Charlotte and Miami this week. Luka Doncic and Co. are back in Dallas tonight to face the bottom-seeded Detroit Pistons. A victory tonight will tie their winning tally with the 4th-seeded Los Angeles Clippers. Unfortunately, the Mavs’ winning streak could be in trouble as their superstar duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving highlight the injury report.
According to the Mavs’ latest injury report, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been ruled out of tonight’s clash against Detroit due to injury. Kyrie is dealing with left hamstring soreness. The injury will break his impressive streak of 31 straight games played. Meanwhile, Luka is dealing with left ankle soreness. His most recent missed game was against the Golden State Warriors last week due to knee soreness.
Luka and Kyrie both out tonight.
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) April 12, 2024
The Mavs were hoping to have their superstar duo healthy for the final two games of the regular season. They are currently seeded 5th in the Western Conference with a 50-30 record. If Dallas wins their remaining regular season games, they have a chance to surpass the Clippers and take the 4th seed. That will give the Mavs a home-court advantage against Kawhi Leonard and Co. in the first round of the playoffs which could prove crucial.
On the Pistons’ side, several superstars, including Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, and Ausar Thompson, will not play against the Mavs tonight.
The Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving connection
When Kyrie Irving got traded to the Mavericks last year, many believed he and Luka would not be able to work together because of their ball-dominant nature. The concerns grew even more when the duo was unable to lead the Mavs to the playoffs last season. But, the duo’s early failure was mainly because they did not get enough time to build chemistry. However, Luka and Kyrie have turned things around this season. They have functioned great together and become one of the most lethal offensive duos in the league.
Kyrie is having one of his best seasons this year, averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 5 rebounds. He is also shooting a whopping 41.1% from the three-point line. Meanwhile, Luka is having a monster season. He is leading the league in scoring with 33.9 points, along with 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds. Luka has also strengthened his MVP claim by leading the Mavs out of the play-in situation and into the Top 5 seed. Luka and Kyrie have silenced the critics by translating their game into wins. In the 67 games they have played together, Luka and Kyrie have a 40-27 winning record.
If Luka and Kyrie stay healthy throughout the playoffs, they have the talent to contend for a title. Both superstars have proved throughout their careers that they thrive in the post-season. And together, they can shock the world and lead the Mavs to a Championship.
