With the 2023-24 season reaching its climax, the race for the playoff spots in the Western Conference is beginning to heat up. The 2023-24 regular season will surely have a grandstand finish with 11 teams vying for 6 guaranteed playoff spots. Of course, the Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks are in the thick of the action. They currently occupy the 8th spot in the Western Conference standings.

The Mavs face the Denver Nuggets in their next game. However, fans of the Mavericks face an anxious wait, as the availability of Luka Magic remains uncertain for tonight’s crunch game against the Nuggets. The Mavs have listed Luka as questionable for the game against Denver due to a hamstring injury. Luka Doncic even missed Dallas’ matchup against the 2nd-seeded OKC Thunder on 14th March. According to Dallas Basketball’s Grant Afseth, “Luka Doncic participated in Saturday’s practice.”

Luka Doncic participating in a practice session today would be a massive boost to the Mavs’ fanbase. With less than 20 regular season games remaining, the Mavs need to pick up wins on a consistent basis if they want to secure a guaranteed playoff spot. Doncic would most probably play against the Nuggets given the importance of the game. However, apart from Luka, the Mavs could miss the services of other key players for tonight’s match.

The Mavericks have listed Dante Exum as questionable because of a plantar fascia sprain. Furthermore, Josh Green has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Nuggets after suffering an ankle injury against the OKC Thunder. The Mavs would have their work cut out against the first-seeded Nuggets, but how would they line up against the reigning champions?

Mavericks lineup against the Nuggets if Luka Doncic steps on the court

The game between the Mavs and the Nuggets is scheduled to tip off by 3:30 PM, Eastern Time at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavs go into the match as the underdog. The Nuggets are a match-up nightmare for any given team in the league right now. Nikola Jokić’s remarkable playmaking abilities, combined with Aaron Gordon’s slashing offensive and defensive abilities and well-rounded three-point shooting, make Denver one of the most feared teams in the NBA. As a result, the Nuggets are currently on a five-game winning streak.

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Nevertheless, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavs possess two of the most lethal offensive players in the NBA. In fact, Luka is leading the league in scoring, with 34.3 points per game. Moreover, he ranks third in assists, averaging 9.8 assists per game. The game against the Nuggets could have significant implications for the Mavs. They need to secure a victory if they harbor hopes of securing a guaranteed playoff spot. They could start the game with Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Derrick Jones Jr. and Dereck Lively II. Do you think Luka Magic and the Mavs will be able to retain their playoff spot against the churning pressure for the final postseason berths in the West?