Will Luka Doncic Play Tonight? Dallas Mavericks vs Indiana Pacers: Injury Updates, Lineups, and Predcition

The NBA’s trade deadline has come to a grand conclusion and the new-look Dallas Mavericks take on the Indiana Pacers in their upcoming next regular-season fixture. These two teams have already met once this season, and it is Dallas, that holds the 1-0 record heading into this game. 

Venue: American Airlines Center

Time: 8:30 PM ET (March 26, 2021)

The Indiana Pacers are ninth in the Eastern Conference, while the Dallas Mavericks are seventh in the West. The upcoming cross-conference game between these two teams will be worthwhile as both the Pacers and Mavericks are looking to improve their respective regular-season records. 

Dallas Mavericks vs Indiana Pacers: Injury Updates and Lineups 

Mavericks 

The Dallas Mavericks are not the team they were expected to be. While Luka Doncic is running the lines for Dallas, he’s not getting ample support to keep the engine running on a nightly basis.

The Mavericks are 7-3 in their last ten games and averaged 113.9 points and 45.4 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field. The Mavs are heading into the Pacers game on the back of a 116-111 over the Detroit Pistons. 

As for injuries, the Mavs will be without newly acquired guard JJ Redick for the Pacers game. Tyler Terry and Willie Cauley-Stein will also miss the game due to injuries, while Nicolo Melli is on the questionable list.

Possible Lineup 

Luka Doncic (G)

Josh Richardson (G) 

Dorian Finney-Smith (F) 

Josh Green (F)

Kristaps Porzingis (C)

Pacers

The Indiana Pacers have amassed a competent 12-11 record in road games this season. However, they haven’t been consistent of late and are 5-5 in their last ten games. The Pacers currently have a 20-23 record in the regular season.

The team is yet to break into a winning record, and Domantas Sabonis has been truly inspiring with his displays for the franchise. Caris LeVert is back into the starting lineup and the Pacers need him to score consistently. 

The Pacers have a healthy roster ahead of the Mavericks game. Only long-time absentee T. J. Warren will be unavailable as he will miss the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season. 

Possible Lineup 

Malcolm Brogdon (G) 

Caris LeVert (G) 

Justin Holiday (F) 

Domantas Sabonis (F) 

Myles Turner (C) 

Prediction

The Dallas Mavericks are the favorites heading into this game. They have the home advantage as well as the fifth-best scorer in the league, Luka Doncic. The Mavs’ offensive rating is 115.64 this season, which is the ninth-best in the league and better than the Pacers’ (112.43). 

Fans have to wait for a few more days to see JJ Redick in a Mavericks jersey. However, the team is well equipped to seal the win against a team that has been playing the last three of its five games away from home. 

Both teams have won their most recent game, but we are counting on Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis to deliver on Friday. We predict that the Dallas Mavericks will get the win against the Indiana Pacers! 

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