Luka Dončić won't be shut down if Mavericks can make playoffs: 'When there's still a chance, I'm gonna play'
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić has no intention of sitting out as long as his team has a mathematical shot at making the playoffs. Dončić made it clear he intends to keep playing, at least until the Mavericks are officially eliminated.
Dončić realizes the Mavericks — who sit one game out of the play-in after dropping seven of their last eight games — don't have a great chance of getting in, but refuses to give up hope for now, per ESPN.
"I'm playing tomorrow," Dončić said after Tuesday's practice. "When there's still a chance, I'm gonna play. So that's not gonna happen yet."
The Mavericks sit one game under the Oklahoma City Thunder for the final spot in the play-in. The Thunder own the tiebreaker, so the Mavericks need to win two more games than Oklahoma City to clinch a play-in spot.
Dončić's declaration comes a day after it was reported the Mavericks could sit both Dončić and Kyrie Irving during the final week of the NBA regular season. The move would presumably give the Mavericks better odds at a higher draft pick. Their pick is top-10 protected and would go to the New York Knicks if it falls out of the top 10 as the final piece of the Kristaps Porzingis trade. As of Tuesday, Dončić, who is dealing with a left thigh injury, and Irving, who is dealing with a right foot injury, are both probable for Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings.
Dončić is in the midst of yet another fantastic season. Through 64 games, Dončić is averaging a career-high 32.8 points per game. He trails Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid — who is averaging 33 points per game — for the scoring title.
The Mavericks will need some luck to secure the final spot in the play-in, though their schedule isn't too tough. After taking on the Kings on Wednesday, Dallas plays the Chicago Bulls on Friday and the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
The Thunder will play the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Utah Jazz on Thursday and Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
