Right as the Dallas Mavericks were starting to get healthy, another injury hit their superstar guard.
Luka Doncic had been healthy for the previous five games before suffering a heel contusion against the Golden State Warriors, and although he finished with a 45-point triple-double against the Dubs, it has still been rumored that was when the injury occurred.
DLLS Mavs' Marc Stein reported that Doncic suffered this heel contusion by taking an "inadvertent kick" against the Warriors on Sunday night, and even after three full days of rest, Doncic remains listed as out for tonight's game against the LA Clippers.
Kidd refrains from giving an update on Luka Doncic's heel injury
The Mavericks did not practice on Monday after the Warriors game, and Doncic didn't participate in either one of their practices on Tuesday or Wednesday, meaning that he has been out from activity since their game in San Francisco over the weekend. Mavs fans knew that Doncic wasn't going to play on Thursday night late on Wednesday night as Dallas listed him as out on their official injury report, and Jason Kidd was asked to give an update on Doncic's heel contusion just seconds into his pregame press conference on Thursday.
Kidd's simple answer was "no."
Kidd had nothing to say about Doncic's recent injury, and that leaves Mavs fans' minds racing with what could be going on with the young superstar. This heel contusion came at the absolute worst time considering that he only played a handful of games after returning from a wrist sprain at the beginning of this month, and the little injuries keep rolling in for Doncic.
Earlier this season, he suffered a calf contusion that caused him to miss the entire preseason, and later missed one game in November with a knee contusion, and he truly can't catch a break this season. He was playing his best basketball of the season before hurting his heel against the Warriors as he dropped above 30 points in four of his last six games, and now he has to start the recovery process all over again.
Kidd's update (or lack thereof) on Doncic's heel could be considered concerning since he's had consecutive days off, and his status for the rest of the home stand remains in question. Dallas has another game against the Clippers on Saturday night before playing the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Day, and we should know more about what could be going on with his heel over the next few days.
If he doesn't practice on Friday or play on Saturday, there is definitely a reason to be concerned. As Mavs fans know well, these contusions are no joke, especially when it comes to Doncic, and time will tell if this is just a minor bump in the road or something that fans should be worried about going into the future.
It's not unusual for Kidd to give surface-level or reserved updates when asked about players' injuries as he keeps his cards close to his chest at all times, but it's worth noting that it sounds like he's pretty much been shut down since the game in Golden State.
The media will have the chance to speak with Kidd again on Friday if the Mavs practice, and we could get a better look at what's truly going on with Doncic's heel then, especially if he's held out of practice again.
