Luka Doncic Returns After Injury

Luka Doncic returned to play for the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA Cup game against the New Orleans Pelicans after missing a previous game due to a right knee contusion. Prior to his absence, Doncic had played a season-low 28 minutes in a win against the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 16 points. Despite his current averages of 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.8 assists being lower than last season's stats, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd remains impressed with his performance. The Mavericks recently ended a four-game losing streak with back-to-back wins, including a victory over the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. However, Doncic missed the game against the Thunder due to his knee injury, marking the first game he sat out this season. Doncic's current season has been marked by a noticeably lower field-goal percentage, highlighting his struggles with efficiency.