Wednesday’s game between Dallas and Minnesota was a huge confidence booster for the Mavs. Playing at Target Center, the visiting team stunned the Wolves by clinching a three-point win in Game 1. With a one-game lead, the Mavs will return to enemy territory tonight for the second game, hoping for the same outcome. But they might be up for a tough challenge because one of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who were crucial in Wednesday’s win, is on the latest injury report for tonight.

Still dealing with a right knee sprain and a left ankle soreness that have been bothering him for several weeks, Luka’s status for Game 2 is probable. If you have been following the Mavs in these playoffs, you might have noticed Luka labouring up and down the court for quite some time. That’s because he has been playing through multiple injuries also including a back injury and a sore knee for nearly four months.

During the previous series, TNT’s Jared Greenberg revealed the severity of Luka’s injuries, “I was told if this were the regular season, he would have been shut down for a minimum of at least two weeks.” However, because it is the playoffs and the Mavs have a chance to win a title, Luka has been going through hours of daily therapy to help him get on the court and perform at his best. And while his status raises concerns, he is likely to suit up for the crucial game tonight.

Meanwhile, his co-star Kyrie Irving, who was the star of the show on Wednesday with his thirty-point performance, is not on the injury report and will most likely be available for Game 2.

Mavs need the Luka and Kyrie connection in Game 2

Throughout these playoffs, we have seen how dominant the Mavs can be when both Luka and Kyrie play at their best while sharing the court. In most games, Luka starts things off with his scoring prowess and helps his team stay in the game till the second half. And that’s when Kyrie unleashes Uncle Drew mode and takes over the game to finish what Luka started. Surely, that’s the kind of chemistry that has brought the Mavs to this stage. But in the last game, their roles were reversed.

While Luka and the Mavs struggled to get going early in the game, Kyrie took the responsibility on his shoulders and scored thirteen points in the first quarter to keep the team afloat. Even Luka appreciated Ky’s contribution after the game, “Amazing. He got us going.” Then, when Luka found his rhythm, he finished the job by scoring fifteen points in the final quarter and hitting the dagger shot to take a four-point lead in the last minute. “We switch roles this time.” Luka said with a smile, proving that the Mavs need both their stars on the court for them to be successful.