Image Source: NBA Sports
[Saba Sports News] Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic has been playing through pain throughout the playoffs, and it was evident during warmups before Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.
Doncic was seen with multiple bandages on his body, looking almost like a kid dressed as a mummy for Halloween. He kept the bandages on until just before tipoff.
Dealing with back issues and a gimpy knee, Doncic was visibly in pain during Game 1 and was seen grabbing his rib cage during practice before Game 2. However, once the game started, Doncic showed little sign of injury, scoring nearly half of his team’s points in the first half.
Doncic tallied 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists on 9/13 shooting by halftime, with the Celtics leading 54-51.
While teams often downplay injuries to avoid giving opponents an advantage, it’s possible Doncic and the Mavericks were doing the opposite, making him seem more injured than he is.