No schedule of return of Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic as MRI confirms

DALLAS — An MRI on Monday confirmed that Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic bears a left calf strain in the team’s regular-season finale, the team declared on Tuesday.

No schedule has been made for Doncic’s return. Asked whether he could be led out for Game 1 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz on Saturday, a source reported, “No.”

Doncic grabbed his youth quickly after leaping to throw a pass and requested a timeout with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s 130-120 win over the San Antonio Spurs. After a short discussion with Mavs director of player health and performance Casey Smith, Doncic hobbled to the player’s locker room.

Doncic didn’t tell the media Sunday night due to his receiving postgame treatment.

A photo of Doncic wearing a medical boot on his left foot as he walked into the hospital side by Smith before the MRI on Monday afternoon was shared on Twitter.

“For some reason, I feel like he’ll be ready to go,” Mavs guard Jalen Brunson said after Sunday’s game. “Knowing the competitor that he is, I feel like he’ll be ready. It’s unfortunate, but a competitor like that you can’t keep down for long.”

The Mavericks, the fourth part of the seed in the Western Conference, had an off day Monday and will practice Tuesday, after which Coach Jason Kidd is scheduled to tell the reporters.

Doncic, a first-team All-NBA selection the past two seasons, averaged 28.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game this season. He would have been string for the regular-season final after being called for his 16th technical foul of the season in Friday’s rout of the Portland Trail Blazers, but the NBA office rescinded the technical on Saturday after an analysis.