Are Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving playing tonight against the Lakers? Latest injury update on star duo ahead of the matchup (17th March 2023)

The Dallas Mavericks(35-35, eighth in the West) and the Los Angeles Lakers(34-36, 10th in the West) will face off in a game at Crypto.com Arena that could have serious playoff implications.

The Dallas Mavericks have been struggling in the absence of their star player, Luka Doncic, who has missed the team's last three games due to a thigh injury. Despite practicing in full on Thursday, Doncic is still not ready to play in a game.

Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving has missed three consecutive games due to a foot injury. The Mavericks hoped that acquiring Irving would help them climb the Western Conference standings, but they currently sit in the No. 8 seed.

Irving's return for the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Lakers would be a huge boost for the Mavericks' offense. Irving has averaged 27.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game since joining the team from the Brooklyn Nets, while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Without Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks have relied heavily on young players Jaden Hardy and Josh Green. However, this may not be enough to take down the Lakers, who are expected to have star player Anthony Davis back in action after he missed the team's previous game against the Houston Rockets.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving might both be absent against Lakers

Friday's game is an important matchup for both teams, with the LA Lakers needing a win to stay ahead of the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans for the final spot in the play-in tournament. LeBron James and Mo Bamba will both be out for the Lakers, while Doncic will miss his fourth consecutive game due to a left thigh strain. Irving, Hardaway, JaVale McGee, and Markieff Morris are all questionable.

With both teams in the Western Conference jockeying for position in the standings, Friday's game could determine who makes the playoffs and who doesn't. A Dallas Mavericks win would give them the season series over the Lakers, which could be critical if the two teams end the regular season with identical records.

The Mavericks are currently one game ahead of the Lakers in the standings, with a record of 35-35 compared to the Lakers' 34-36.

The Mavericks have won two of the three games they've played against the Lakers this season, with Doncic leading the way in their victories. The Lakers' lone victory in the series came on February 26, despite Doncic's 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, and Irving's 21 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

Rookie Jaden Hardy and third-year guard Josh Green have been on a roll for the Mavericks, with both players scoring 20 or more points in their last three games. This makes them the first pair of Mavericks players under the age of 23 to achieve this feat.