Sprained right ankle sidelines Mavs star
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic could miss two weeks with a sprained right ankle, ESPN reported Sunday. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year was injured on Saturday night when he stepped on Miami guard Kendrick Nunn’s foot while driving to the basket.
He left the court with 10:20 remaining in the first quarter and went to the locker-room for treatment. X-rays were negative, but he did not return in the Mavericks’ 122-118 loss.
“Luka Doncic will not travel to Milwaukee due to a right ankle sprain,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle texted reporters Sunday, per ESPN. “He will stay in Dallas with (Mavs director of player health and performance) Casey Smith and receive treatment. There will be no further updates until Wednesday night.”
Dallas plays at Milwaukee on Monday night and returns home to host Boston on Wednesday night.
Doncic, 20, has emerged as a most valuable player candidate in his second season, averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game through 25 games. He has eight triple-doubles.
Chicago Bulls executive John Paxson gave a vote of confidence to embattled coach Jim Boylen in a rare interview with reporters this weekend.
Boylen has drawn scrutiny for the Bulls’ 10-18 start to the season, which has included multiple fourth-quarter failings. The Bulls are 27-59 since Boylen took over for Fred Hoiberg midway through last season.
“We’re committed to Jim,” Paxson said in comments published on Nbcsportschicago.com. “There’s no quick fix to this. We’re not thinking of making any changes. Jim is a grinder. He’s going to keep grinding.”
The team’s top scorer, Zach Lavine, has clashed with Boylen at times this season but says he is committed to the team and the coach. Another veteran, Thaddeus Young, recently indicated to reporters that he is unhappy with the playing time he is receiving from Boylen.
Does the locker-room still buy in to the hardnosed coach?
“We recognize players have a voice in this day and age,” Paxson said. “They’re empowered in a way they’ve never been. And that’s a good thing for the league. They’ve taken that and used it in a positive way for the league.
“We talk to the players. Thad, we’ve spoken to. The one thing I am confident (in) is guys in that locker-room share the same goal. They are together. There’s never going to be a perfect situation. There’s always some conflict.”
The Bulls begin a fourgame road trip Monday in Oklahoma City.