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SALT LAKE CITY — Luka Doncic is getting closer to a return, and it could come as soon as Thursday's Game 3 at Vivint Arena.
On Wednesday, Doncic spoke with reporters for the first time since straining his left calf, an injury that has kept him out of the first two games of the Dallas Mavericks' first-round series against the Utah Jazz.
"Today and yesterday I did a little bit," Doncic said. "We shouldn't rush anything, but step by step, I think I'm improving a lot, and I'm getting better."
The superstar guard said he was "feeling good" but isn't sure if he'll play in Game 3. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that there was increasing optimism that Doncic will be able to make his series debut in either Game 3 or 4.
"He's doing the work that the medical staff has asked him to do, and there hasn't been any setback," Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. "He feels great, so I think he just continues to come in with that good attitude that at some point, he'll get that green light to play."
And that could come as soon as Thursday, according to Kidd, depending on "how he feels."
Game 3 will mark 11 days since Doncic suffered the injury in Dallas' final regular season game on April 10.
Injury analyst Jeff Stotts said the average return time for NBA players from calf strains is 16 days; however, Dallas reserve guard Frank Ntilikina only missed 12 days earlier this season.
"I don't know if I'm going to be 100%; I think that's tough right now," Doncic said. "But if I'm ready and there's no risk of (re-injury), I'll be out there."
The Jazz and Mavericks are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 will be at 7 p.m. MDT on NBA TV and AT&TSportsNet.
