Luka Doncic’s return to Madrid, where he spent three seasons playing for the EuroLeague’s Real Madrid, did not go as expected as he logged just 4:53 of court time because of an apparent calf strain in a 127-123 Mavericks loss.
The Mavericks said he suffered the injury during Monday’s practice. He scored nine points in his limited playing time. Still, his former club honored him before the game as he received an award from team president Florentino Perez at halfcourt while fans chanted his name and gave him a standing ovation.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s a special day for me,” Doncic said as he acknowledged the fans. “I’ve seen my former teammates and people I had been with many years ago. Thank you all.”
According to The Dallas Morning News, Doncic assured media members after the game that his injury is not serious, and head coach Jason Kidd echoed that sentiment in his postgame press conference.
“He got hurt in practice yesterday,” Kidd explained. “Just a precaution to make sure we didn’t put him in a situation to get hurt again. He played the five minutes, and he looked good. He clearly wanted to continue to keep playing, but it’s a long season. He did everything to get out there and play, and he did a great job.”
Guard Kyrie Irving also missed the game because of a lingering groin injury.
The game was the third and final of a 12-day international trip for Dallas, including a previous Abu Dhabi stop to play two games against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Mavericks lost all three games on the trip, but Kidd remains pleased with what he has seen.
“As a whole [and] as a coach, I’m happy with where this team is on this trip,” he said. “And now we go home.”
The Mavericks (0-3) will continue their preseason at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, October 20, against the Detroit Pistons (0-1) at the American Airlines Center.
