Luka Doncic listed as questionable for Game 4

SALT LAKE CITY– Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for Saturday’s Game 4 between the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz.

Before Friday’s practice session at Vivint Arena, Doncic said he didn’t know if he wasn’t going to play in Game 4, which tips off at 3:30 p.m. He also acknowledged that his strained left calf is no longer painful and no longer making him feel any type of discomfort.

“I feel good,” Doncic said. “I’m feeling better every day.”

Since the Mavs are up, 2-1, on the Jazz in this best-of-seven first-round playoff series, the general thought is that the Mavs would hold off on playing Doncic as long as they could. However, coach Jason Kidd said that analysis has no bearing in the Mavs’ line of thinking.

“Where we are today in the series does not have any effect of if he plays or he doesn’t play,” Kidd said. “I think when you look at what he’s done up to this point, he’s going in the right direction.

“He’s listening to the medical, he’s doing all the work, there hasn’t been any setbacks.”

Doncic also said the fact that the Mavs are one game up on the Jazz in this series plays no role on if he’ll play in Game 4.

“I don’t think the wins or losses factor into any of this,” he said. “It’s just the calf and how it feels. “

Either way, it’s been challenging for Doncic to sit and miss the first three games of this series. The three-time All-Star point guard has grown accustomed to being right smack in the middle of the action, with most of it centering around him.

However, since straining his left calf in the April 10 regular season finale against the San Antonio Spurs, Doncic has had to learn how to exercise patience with the rehabbing process of that calf.

“It’s been tough,” he said. “It’s very easy to play basketball than to watch it, especially if your team is playing.

“I’m too nervous on the bench. I’ve been doing some court stuff, I’ve been feeling good, and I want to get back as soon as possible.”

Counting the playoffs, the Mavs are 10-10 this season when playing games with Doncic out of the lineup. But with so much at stake this time of the season, they obviously would rather be playing games with Doncic in the lineup.

“I don’t know if it’s ever a good thing to have your best player out in the playoffs,” Kidd said. “But the one thing that these group of guys learned playing without Luka during the season is that they could play and they could win, so that’s always a positive.

“But we always believed that since Day One that we were going to be a team, and that‘s who we are. We’re a team. Luka dominates the headlines, which he should. He’s a special talent. But we rely on one another, not just one guy.”

The Jazz have found that out the hard way in this series. And it’s not just one player who has picked up the slack in Doncic’s absence.

In Game 2, Jalen Brunson tallied a career playoff-high 41 points during the Mavs’ 110-104 victory over the Jazz. And in the 126-118 win in Game 3, Brunson poured in 31 points while six other members of the Mavs scored at least 12 points.

In addition to Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie (20), Maxi Kleber (17) Davis Bertans (15), Dorian Finney-Smith (14), Reggie Bullock (12) and Josh Green (12) all were huge contributors for the Mavs on Thursday.

That’s only the second time in franchise history that the Mavs had seven players score at least 12 points in a playoff game. The only other time was in the opening round of the playoffs against Houston on April 28, 1988 when Roy Tarpley (24), James Donaldson (18), Mark Aguirre (16), Rolando Blackman (15), Brad Davis (12), Derek Harper (12) and Detlef Schrempf (12) did the honors.

“That’s the fun part of this team is no matter who picks us to do what, we always believe that when we take the floor we have a chance,” Kidd said. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to win every game.

“But we truly believe we’re going to compete and we’re going to make it tough.”

It definitely has come as no surprise to Doncic that the Mavs have had the edge so far in this series without him.

“They’re playing great,” Doncic said, referring to his teammates. “I always say the game plan is incredible.

“(Utah) tried to do something different yesterday playing small ball, so we just followed the game plan (and) executed the plan. But everybody is playing great. Everybody is doing their job.”

Since Dec. 31, the Mavs won 36 games during the remainder of the regular season. The only team that won more were the Phoenix Suns with 37.

“We’re just playing team basketball,” Doncic said. “I think Jason has done a great job this season.

“In the playoffs he’s done a great job, so I think props to him. So just be patient if I’m out there or not.”

Twitter: @DwainPrice