Dallas Mavs’ Luka Doncic Upgraded to Available vs. Houston Rockets

HOUSTON — The Dallas Mavericks enter Sunday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets on a six-game winning streak and have won 10 of their previous 11 games. Luka Doncic was upgraded from questionable to available as he manages right knee soreness.

No team has a longer active winning streak than the Rockets, as they have achieved 11 consecutive victories. Doncic’s presence will be leaned on heavily to stifle such a surging squad.

Doncic was noticeably bothered by both of his knees during Friday’s 107-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings but remained optimistic about his condition when asked about it in his post-game press conference.

“The left [knee] one was bleeding. The right one, I fell on it twice, and then on a step-back, I hurt it a little bit more,” Doncic said after Friday’s game. “But it’ll be fine.”

The only other player included on the Mavs’ injury report is Josh Green, who remains sidelined due to a right ankle sprain. Olivier-Maxence Prosper was recalled from a G League assignment.

Doncic has averaged 33.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.1 rebounds in 64 games this season. The Mavs achieved a 41-23 record when he’s in the lineup but have gone 3-6 without him.

Doncic remains in the MVP conversation after leading Dallas to wins in 10 consecutive games he’s played, positioning them sixth in the Western Conference standings after sweeping the two-game mini-series against the Kings.

With the Boston Celtics defeating the Pelicans on Saturday, the Mavs only trail New Orleans by a half-game for the fifth seed in the Western Conference and are two games back from the fourth-ranked Los Angeles Clippers.

Doncic has powered through various injuries lately, including being listed as questionable twice against the Kings due to left Achilles soreness.