Dallas Mavericks: Kristaps Porzingis is nearing a return to the lineup

Dallas Mavericks: Kristaps Porzingis is nearing a return to the lineup

Dallas Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis has not played in a game this season. He missed the team’s final three playoff games inside the Walt Disney World bubble after tearing his meniscus. Offseason surgery has sidelined him for the first seven of the new campaign, but he is nearing a return to action.

KP’s comeback will not be a moment too soon for the Mavs. Dallas has won three of their first seven games heading into Thursday’s contest against the Denver Nuggets. It has been a slow start for Luka Doncic and the Mavericks, but the return of Porzingis figures to improve the team on both ends of the floor.

Fans are wondering when the Unicorn will be back. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle gave an update on Jan. 6. Let us take a look at the latest.

Dallas Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis is nearing a return to the lineup.

Following Wednesday’s practice, Carlisle had this to say about KP.

"“He looked good. He’s really looked good the whole time in relation to what the given threshold is, everything from post-surgery rehab through beginnings of being in the weight room, beginnings of being on the court. Everything has gone without issue which is great. In terms of a timetable, we are not talking weeks. We are talking sometime in the next week, week and a half, if all things continue to go well, I think there is a chance we could see him playing.”"

He followed up by saying he would not “commit to a certain game or anything like that”. Carlisle all but ruled him out through Saturday’s contest against the Magic. The Mavs play six games over the next ten days. Porzingis could return as soon as Monday game against the Pelicans.

Fans should expect the Mavericks to bring him back slowly. KP will start off playing less than a full minute’s load. The Mavs want him to stay healthy for the long haul, which likely means sitting back-to-backs and doing whatever it takes to have Porzingis firing on all cylinders come playoff time.

The Dallas Mavericks could be scary good with Kristaps Porzingis in the lineup. Fans are not going to want to miss a second of the action, so stay tuned.