Mavericks’ Luka Doncic doesn’t return to Game 3 after spraining ankle

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic sprained his left ankle late in the third quarter of Friday’s Game 3 against the LA Clippers and was ruled out after briefly returning in the fourth quarter.

Doncic went down after rolling his ankle while defending Kawhi Leonard on a drive to the basket with 3:58 remaining in the quarter. He immediately grabbed his left ankle, and after being helped to his feet, Doncic hopped on his right foot off the floor and up the tunnel.

Doncic returned at the beginning of the fourth quarter and was clearly hobbled before exiting with 9:02 remaining. The Mavs announced that Doncic would not return minutes later.

Doncic, a 21-year-old All-Star, twice missed stretches after spraining his right ankle this season, sitting out a total of 11 games.

Doncic averaged 35.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists while the Mavs and Clippers split the first two games of the series. He had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 3, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to record a playoff triple-double, behind only Magic Johnson and LeBron James.

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