Is Luka Doncic playing against Oklahoma City Thunder?

Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks find themselves in the midst of a down spell. Their 13-13 record lands them in the tenth spot in the Western Conference standings. The Mavs are currently 4-6 over their last ten games and are riding a two-game losing streak.

Next up for Dallas is a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, it is up in the air if Luka Doncic will be in the lineup,

The three-time All-Star is dealing with a strain to his right quad. Per the latest injury report, he is available for the Mavericks against the Thunder.

Luka Doncic is an early favorite for the MVP award this season. He leads the league in scoring 32.9 points per game while averaging 8.5 rebounds and 8.8 assists. The last time he was on the floor, Luka posted 33 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists in a one-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

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The Dallas Mavericks can't afford to be without Luka Doncic for an extended period

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets

Since Jalen Brunson departed for the New York Knicks in free agency, Luka Doncic has been forced to be the focal point of the Dallas Mavericks offense. Before the signing of Kemba Walker, the roster had limited options when it came to ball handling and offensive creation.

While Luka has proven he can carry the load, it comes at a cost. When he is not on the floor, the Mavericks struggle greatly. The All-NBA point guard sat out their last game against the Chicago Bulls, and they went on to lose by almost 30 points.

The last time Luka was out of the lineup was in mid-November against the Houston Rockets. Even when facing a young rebuilding team, Dallas could not get the job done without their best player.

With him being listed as available on the injury report, it's likely Luka Doncic will make his return against the OKC Thunder. However, the Mavericks are playing a dangerous game. Putting so much wear and tear on their franchise cornerstone could quickly change the trajectory of their season.

There is no denying that Luka will be an MVP-caliber talent in the NBA for years to come, and even though he's only 23 years old, the Mavericks still need to proceed with extreme caution. One regular season game is not worth risking injuring your top players even more.

Based on how their last game went, Dallas must be feeling thankful that they will potentially have Luka back in the lineup Monday night.