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Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is getting ever closer to returning to action and more news around the team including a Luka Doncic injury update.
The Dallas Mavericks have played fantastic basketball after their poor 2-7 start to the year. They are currently 11-10 and holding down the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
The team has done all that without franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk had ankle surgery back in April and has still yet to play in an NBA game since, but that could be changing soon. He has been practicing in recent weeks. Things appear to be ramping up, though. Dirk scrimmaged on Monday. Here is more courtesy of Tim Cato.
Dirk just dunked during a 3-on-3 game with Luka Doncic half heartedly trying to block him, and yelled out: “Give me this young burger.”
— tim cato (@tim_cato) December 3, 2018
Fans can see some of the clips from the scrimmage on Twitter. Isaac Harris posted one and two that are worth watching.
Despite practicing, Coach Carlisle still has yet to commit to a firm timetable for Dirk’s return to game action.
Doncic injury update
Luka Doncic missed the first game of his NBA career on Sunday when the Mavericks played the Clippers. Luka is bothered by a right hip strain. Coach Carlisle gave an update after Monday’s practice which fans can read here courtesy of Dwain Price.
Luka missed Sunday's game against the LA Clippers with a strained right hip. Carlisle said: "He's doing better. I don't think it's 100% that' he's going to play (tomorrow vs. Portland), but it looks like he's doing fine."
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) December 3, 2018
Hopefully, Doncic is ready to face the Blazers on Tuesday evening. The Mavs need their leading scorer back with a difficult stretch of games upcoming this week.
Behind the scenes look at the Mavs
The team released the second installment of their behind the scenes series which fans can view below.
Mavs articles from around FanSided
DSJ chips tooth, clinches win over Clippers [The Smoking Cuban- Tyler Watts]
Luka Doncic is the Mavs best free throw shooter [The Smoking Cuban- Tyler Watts]
Mavericks articles from around the internet
Dirk scrimmages against NBA players [Mavs.com- Dwain Price]
Mavs Mondays: A buzzer-beater, an ejection, and a lost tooth [Mavs.com- Isaac Harris]
Ten things I like and don’t like including Luka Doncic moves [ESPN- Zach Lowe]
The Smoking Cuban features everything fans desire about the Dallas Mavericks including news, game analysis, and opinions on the team, so continue checking back to the site regularly.