Mavs Hope Luka Dončić's Ankle Injury 'Just Day-to-Day,' Jason Kidd Says

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić will sit his team's home game on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers with right ankle swelling. However, head coach Jason Kidd expressed optimism that it won't be a long-term issue.

Dončić has been mostly healthy this season.

However, he missed a Dec. 1 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies due to personal reasons, a Dec. 22 loss to the Houston Rockets due to a quad injury and a Dec. 28 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a quad ailment.

The 24-year-old continues to compete at the top of his game, averaging 33.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 9.3 assists in 29 games while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 38.2 percent from deep.

When Dončić is out of the lineup, it's typically on Kyrie Irving to take over. However, Irving has been limited to just 19 games this season due to a heel injury, so Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dante Exum have been Dallas' go-to when Dončić is sidelined.

Irving will play in this game, however, and should be the offensive focal point. Exum is out with a right heel contusion.

The Mavericks sit seventh in the Western Conference with a 20-15 record, but they need Dončić and Irving to remain healthy if they truly hope to contend with the NBA's top teams.