Luka Doncic Jestingly Gives a Worrying Health Update After Nuggets Heartbreak

With Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II absent, the Dallas Mavericks faced a challenging matchup against the defending champions. The game concluded with a 130-104 loss, despite Luka Doncic’s impressive performance of 38 points and 11 rebounds. Adding to the hurdles, Doncic was grappling with an undisclosed illness and was back at the team hotel before the game. Initially absent from the arena, Doncic made a late entrance alongside Nikola Jokic and entered the game on a 10-16 shooting for the half.

However, Jokic encountered difficulties with his shot, managing to sink only 3 out of 8 attempts, resulting in 8 points. The Denver Nuggets were led by Jamal Murray, who contributed 22 points, while Reggie Jackson also took charge with 20 points coming off the bench.

Luka Doncic has the chuckles

In the post-game press conference, Brad Townsend, the Dallas Morning News sports reporter, inquired about Doncic’s undisclosed illness, playfully asking if he had “the sniffles.” In response, Luka jokingly affirmed with a “yes,” while emphasizing that he had “everything else” too.

In the first 4 minutes of the game, Luka Doncic struggled, missing all three of his shots and committing two turnovers. Adding to his challenges, he received an accidental whack on the jaw from his friend and MVP competitor, Jokic.

Read More – “Bromance We All Need”: Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic Team-Up Catches Wind Ahead of Nuggets vs Mavs

Nevertheless, entering the game just hours after being named the player of the week, Luka showcased another brilliant performance. He extended his franchise record for consecutive 30-point games to 11.

Nuggets were selfless, while Dallas struggled to find balance

The Mavericks came into the matchup with a commendable record. They secured six wins in their last seven matchups. Furthermore, they held the NBA’s third-best road record at 9-. However, the Nuggets were in their zone with an 11-2 home record.

For the Mavs, only Luka and Dante Exum (11 points) managed to touch the 10-point mark. However, on the Nuggets side, things were transitioning selflessly. Six Nuggets players stepped up, scoring in double digits; four of them came off the bench. As they flaunted their depth, three of their scorers touched the 20-point mark. The game also marked a return for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after missing two games, who added to the intensity on both ends of the floor. Additionally, the team collectively tallied 29 assists, surpassing the Mavericks’ count of 19.

Watch This Story – Alperen Sengun Muffling Nikola Jokic and Co at Home Takes NBA World by Surprise

Luka Doncic has continuously made sure that he is available for the squad, with his only missed game coming after the birth of her daughter. Dallas, on the other hand, has given in to the struggles of grappling through injury. Currently, apart from Kyrie and Lively, they have Josh Green and Maxi Kleber sidelined, with their return uncertain.