“It was great to be out there with Luka. What an incredible talent,” Klay Thompson revealed following the Dallas Mavericks’ season opener, which also happened to be the Slovenian’s first game of the 2024-25 tournament. After missing the entirety of his franchise’s preseason run due to an injury, Luka Doncic’s condition had improved well enough to allow him to team up with the former Warriors veteran and bring an exciting start to another tournament that might see the team go far in the playoffs. However, will his recovery allow him to be present for a second consecutive game?

As it turns out, it most certainly will! NBA reporter Grant Afseth recently took to X to highlight the Injury Report for the Mavericks’ upcoming matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Once again, Luka Doncic’s name is absent from the report. This ensures his availability to take on the dangerous duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. However, Danté Exum, Kessler Edwards, and Brandon Williams have been listed as out.

Unlike a few of the NBA players who were also dealing with injuries during the preseason, Luka Doncic had not developed his ailment during the previous tournament or the offseason. In fact, the player was quite healthy up till the Mavericks Press Day. He had even participated in the ‘Night of the Dragon’ event held back in late August. The trouble began during training camp. With no Woj Bomb to beat him, Shams Charania broke the news that Luka Doncic had developed a left calf contusion. The doctors revealed that they would not re-evaluate his condition until a week later. This meant that the player would certainly not appear in the first preseason game. However, the whole preseason went by, the Mavericks were only able to record 1-3 wins, and the Slovenian still did not appear.

Fortunately, Doncic’s earlier injury report had not ruled him out for the season opener. This meant that Mavericks fans could still have hoped for a miracle. If they did, then it certainly paid off. Doncic appeared against the Spurs, made 28 points in 36 minutes, and secured the win. This may have been because the 25-year-old did not spend the entire time resting while Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving were busy leading the team during the preseason. Instead, he spent considerable time during the day practicing by making use of 1-on-1 sessions with assistant coach God Shammgod. Head Coach Jason Kidd even revealed the player had been keeping himself busy with non-contact practice sessions.

In regards to the players on the Injury Report, Exum, Edwards, and Williams have been declared out for the Suns game. Danté Exum was another player who developed an injury during training camp, but he fell prey to a wrist ailment instead of one on his calf. After undergoing surgery, the shooting guard/point guard is reportedly expected to be sidelined for the next three months. Meanwhile, Kessler Edwards and Brandon Williams are currently playing under two-way contracts. Under the terms of the agreement, both players are required to spend a designated amount of time in the G-League and can participate in only 50 NBA games. Consequently, this G-League stipulation has exempted them from the upcoming matchup.

Having Luka Doncic on the Mavericks’ side when taking on Kevin Durant and co would go a long way in increasing his team’s odds of winning. After all, if the Slovenian’s past few games have taught us anything, it is that he puts up a tough fight when going up against the Valley Suns.

How has Luka Doncic performed against the Phoenix Suns over the last 10 games?

During his six seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic has faced off against the Phoenix Suns 19 times, proving to be one of his toughest opponents, with a current record of 6 wins and 4 losses against them. However, these matchups have also produced some unforgettable highlights in Doncic’s career.

In his last 10 games against the Suns, Doncic has averaged an impressive 32.3 points. This scoring surge can be attributed to his consistent offensive efforts, as he has attempted double-digit field goals in all but one of those games. Additionally, he scored over 20 points in eight of those contests. His shooting statistics further showcase his effectiveness, with a field goal percentage of 48.6%, 37.2% from beyond the arc, and 85.4% from the free-throw line.

Doncic’s regular season debut back in October 2018 was against the same Western Conference rival, the Phoenix Suns. In that game, he recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Fast forward five years and the Slovenian superstar notched a double-double with 50 points, 6 rebounds, and 15 assists in a significant game that allowed him to surpass the 10,000-career points threshold.

The last four matchups between Doncic and the Suns have seen a back-and-forth pattern, with one team losing and then winning the next game. The upcoming matchup presents an opportunity for Doncic and the Mavericks to establish a winning streak, building momentum for future games.