The Dallas Mavericks meet the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals tonight, but there might be another obstacle on their path to the victory. The Celtics are currently leading the series with a 3-0 and the Mavs need to turn the game on its ahead tonight if they wish to stay in the series. But just ahead of the crucial game tonight, Mavs’ star Luka Doncic has been listed as “probable.”

According to a latest report, Luka Doncic is suffering from a thoracic contusion; an injury to the chest. The issue surfaced right before Game 3, where Luka’s availability was under question but the player managed to play, albeit with the help of, in the player’s own words, a “pain-killing injection.” Doncic seems to think he might need another such injection before Game 4.

This issue, which is essentially a chest injury, is the latest in a string of physical setbacks for Dončić during the postseason, which also includes a sprained right knee and painful left ankle.

Dončić has been a constant on the court despite these health issues, participating in all of the Mavericks’ postseason games and has carried his team to the NBA Finals.

But for Game 4 tonight, the Mavs need a historical win. No team in NBA history has ever been able to come back from a 3-0 deficit. With Doncic facing a massive hurdle, is there any hope left for the Mavs?

Luka Doncic’s disappointing Finals performance

Luka Doncic was exceptional in the playoffs. Over 20 playoff appearances, he has averaged 28.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game. But all his defensive abilities are waste in front of the Boston Celtics. In fact, the Celtics have targeted Doncic throughout the series. According to Second Spectrum, the Celtics are successfully driving past Dončić on 67.7% of their attempts against him, which is the highest blow-by percentage a defender has recorded in a postseason series in the last ten years. 

On top of that, Doncic has attracted a lot of attention from his misdemeanor with the officiating crew. Known for his contentious attitude on-court, Doncic seems to contest almost every whistle these days. Naturally, his distracted focus has worsened his defense. In one such instance, he lost the ball twice because his attention was focused on getting a foul called on the Celtics.

ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst said, “His defensive performance is unacceptable, he’s a hole on the court, the Celtics are ahead in the series because they have attacked him defensively. He’s costing his team because of how he treats the officials. His performance in this game is unacceptable and the reason why the Mavs are not gonna win.”  Is Luka Doncic going to cost the Mavs their title?

The Mavericks face a daunting challenge; one that no team has ever been able to overcome. Dallas needs a remarkable comeback to stay in the running for the championship while Jayson Tatum and the Celtics eye the trophy. If the Mavericks are to salvage their season, the presence of their star player in his best condition is necessary.