Woj: Luka Dončić's Thigh Injury Not Serious, Will Return for Mavs Once Pain Subsides

An MRI on Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić's thigh came back clean, and he is expected to return to the lineup "as soon as discomfort allows him," per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Dončić exited Wedneday's 113-106 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans after suffering a left thigh strain.

Dončić said after Wednesday's loss that the injury was "not good," per ESPN's Andrew Lopez. The 24-year-old added that the ailment has been lingering since a Feb. 23 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

"I think it was the second game after the All-Star break," he said. "Something like that."

Dončić, who has been mostly healthy this season, has appeared in 57 games for the Mavs. He's averaging 33.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 34.9 percent from deep.

The Slovenian's 33.0 points per game rank second in the NBA behind Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid's 33.3 points per game.

If Dončić misses an extended period of time, the Mavericks will turn to Kyrie Irving to lead the offense and pick up more of the scoring load.

Since being acquired by Dallas in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, the 30-year-old is averaging 27.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 11 games while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The Mavericks may also call upon Frank Ntilikina, Justin Holiday and Tim Hardaway Jr. to play more until Dončić returns.

The Mavericks currently sit eighth in an extremely tight Western Conference with a 34-33 record. They're just a half-game back of the sixth place Los Angeles Clippers, who are occupying the final guaranteed playoff spot.

Dallas is set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Dončić's status for that matchup is unclear.