Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic struggles against the Spurs

Dallas Mavericks standout Luka Doncic had one of the worst games of his young career against the Spurs on March 12 because of a knee injury.

Dallas Mavericks fans knew Luka Doncic was struggling with a left knee strain heading into Tuesday game against the San Antonio Spurs. He suffered the injury when the Mavs hosted the Rockets on March 10. Luka did not practice on Monday leading the team to list him as questionable for the contest.

Doncic decided to play, but the night did not go as he or the team hoped. The Spurs defeated the Mavericks 112-105 in front of the Dallas crowd. Luka also had one of the worst games of his professional basketball career.

Luka Doncic finished with 12 points, six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer made in 34 minutes on Tuesday evening. That line sounds fine until you factor in his efficiency. Doncic shot five of 18 from the field and hit just one of his nine free throw attempts. Add in nine turnovers, and Luka struggled mightily against San Antonio.

Injury to blame?

The Spurs are a strong team again this season. Coach Popovich has them primed for another playoff run, but the rookie’s injury played a factor in his struggles. Eddie Sefko sent out the following Tweet early in Tuesday’s game.

Fans could see him struggling on the court throughout the night. Multiple reporters shared their thoughts on the situation. Luka Doncic probably should not have played, but that says a ton about his personality. The rookie wants to be on the court and help his team succeed no matter the circumstances.

Here is what Doncic had to say after Tuesday’s game courtesy of Tim MacMahon.

Coach Carlisle takes some blame

During his postgame comments, Coach Rick Carlisle was quick to admit that Luka did not look his best. Here is what he had to say via Tim MacMahon.

Final thoughts

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic played against the Spurs on March 12 despite a knee injury holding him back. It resulted in a poor performance from Doncic, and the Mavs sixth consecutive loss as a team. It was not a fantastic evening.

The organization has a decision to make heading into Thursday game in Denver. It is again a national TV game on TNT. Luka is going to want to play despite being less than 100 percent. The team has to travel to the Mile High City as well. Will the Mavericks try to convince Doncic to sit out and rest? Fans should keep an eye on his status up until tipoff for the latest information.

Dallas Mavericks fans received yet another reason to love Luka Doncic on March 12. The rookie is willing to play through an injury to help his team. That type of drive is special. The Mavs have a burgeoning superstar on their hands. Fans should be licking their chops at the future potential.