FIBA injuries could affect playoff picture

Luka Doncic. SOPA Images

FIBA injuries could affect Western Conference playoff picture

By Sean Keane | Last updated 8/4/23

Slovenia faced Greece in a pre-World Cup friendly. The injuries to its NBA players could be far from friendly.

Luka Doncic came up limping near the end of the first half Friday, in Slovenia's second game with Greece this week, after a knee-to-knee collision with Emmanouil Chatzidakis.

Seems like Luka may have tweaked something towards the end of the half. pic.twitter.com/BqdBNnWyWd
— The Mavs Blog (@TheMavsBlog) August 4, 2023

The Mavericks' Doncic didn't play in the second half as a precaution, but team officials don't think the injury was serious. There were also reports that Doncic wasn't going to play in the second half anyway, as Slovenia gears up for the FIBA World Cup later this month.

“No concerns,” source tells ESPN after Luka Doncic banged knees during Slovenia’s exhibition loss to Greece today. Doncic exited early as a precaution. https://t.co/IzKIjwZvOb
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) August 4, 2023

The injury to Denver's Vlatko Cancar looked decidedly worse.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look good for Vlatko Cancarpic.twitter.com/GC3Q2vuCPB
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 4, 2023

Cancar, who averaged five points while starting nine games for the Nuggets last season, landed awkwardly after a fourth-quarter dunk, falling to the ground and clutching his left knee.

The Nuggets envisioned a larger role for their 26-year-old power forward next season after Bruce Brown and Jeff Green departed as free agents. Cancar played extremely well alongside Nikola Jokic last season, with the Nuggets averaging 125.3 points per 100 possessions when the two shared the court. For comparison, the Sacramento Kings, last year's No. 1 offense, averaged 120.7 points per possession.

Cancar left the arena with his knee wrapped. On the positive side, he was walking under his own power, not on crutches.

Vlatko Cancar leaving the arena pic.twitter.com/BkYOC8tfHn
— Antonis Stroggylakis (@AStroggylakis) August 4, 2023

He and Team Slovenia and the Nuggets now await the results of his MRI, though teammate Jordan Morgan was optimistic.

Slovenia big man Jordan Morgan says that Vlatko Cancar's initial tests were "positive from what I understood"
— Antonis Stroggylakis (@AStroggylakis) August 4, 2023

If Cancar can't continue, it's a big blow to Slovenia's World Cup hopes. And a slightly smaller blow to the Nuggets hopes of repeating as champions.

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