Kings gameday live: Will Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic return from COVID-19 protocols?
Luka Doncic is one of six players who are not expected to be in uniform when the Dallas Mavericks visit the Kings on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center.
The Mavericks said Doncic, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber and Ja’Quori McLaughlin were still out due to NBA health and safety protocols Tuesday. Willie Cauley-Stein, who spent his first four seasons with the Kings, is away from the team for personal reasons and has not played since Nov. 27.
There has been some speculation Doncic and others could return while the Mavericks (16-17) are in Sacramento to play the Kings (14-21) on Wednesday and again on Friday. The NBA has shortened the quarantine period for vaccinated and asymptomatic players to six days. Doncic, who is vaccinated, completed his sixth day of quarantine Wednesday.
Doncic has missed the past eight games for the Mavericks, who had lost four of five before beating the Portland Trail Blazers 132-117 on Monday. Doncic was getting ready to return from a sprained ankle when he entered health and safety protocols on Dec. 22.
The Kings, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a 117-111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, have had their own COVID-19 outbreak to deal with. Interim coach Alvin Gentry, De’Aaron Fox, Terence Davis, Marvin Bagley, Louis King and Alex Len have all cleared health and safety protocols. Davion Mitchell and Neemias Queta are still out, but Gentry said Mitchell could be back Wednesday.
Mavericks sign Isaiah Thomas
Former Kings guard Isaiah Thomas is reportedly on his way to Sacramento to face his former team as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.
Sources told veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein the Mavericks were signing Thomas to a 10-day contract on a hardship exemption with several players out due to health and safety protocols. Stein reported Thomas was en route to Sacramento on Wednesday morning and would be in uniform when the Mavericks play the Kings at 7:30 p.m. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported the Mavericks were signing Thomas after Boban Marjanovic and replacement player Brandon Knight entered NBA health and safety protocols.
Mitchell cleared
Mitchell exited NBA health and protocols Wednesday and could be available when the Kings face the Mavericks. Queta is the only Kings player who is still in the league’s protocol system.
Dallas Mavericks at Sacramento Kings
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Mavericks -2.5
Over/under: 220
Injury report
Mavericks: OUT — Trey Burke (health and safety protocols); Willie Cauley-Stein (personal reasons); Luka Doncic (health and safety protocols); Tim Hardaway Jr. (health and safety protocols); Maxi Kleber (health and safety protocols); JaQuori McLaughlin (health and safety protocols).
Kings: OUT — Neemias Queta (health and safety protocols).
This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
