Now clinging to a play-in spot in the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks are awaiting the return of their star, Luka Doncic, to make their ascent.

Guard Dante Exum, who’s missed the entire season thus far after undergoing offseason wrist surgery, was upgraded to “doubtful” for the Pelicans game, the first time all season Exum has been listed as anything other than “out” on the injury report.

Still out for Wednesday

Kylor Kelley spoke to reporters before the Dallas Mavericks' game on Monday night against the Washington Wizards.

Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (1 ... With just under five minutes to go in the third quarter, center Dwight Powell left the game after falling down injured on a defensive possession. He was helped off the court and went straight to the locker room.

The Dallas Mavericks recently welcomed Kyrie Irving back to their lineup, but injuries struck again as big man Dwight Powell went down during their home game against the OKC Thunder on Friday.

Powell (hip) remains out for Saturday's game against the Celtics. Powell will miss a fourth straight game Saturday with a hip strain, and his next chance to suit up for the Mavericks arrives Monday against the Wizards.

Powell was escorted to the locker room in Friday's game against the Thunder due to an apparent lower-body injury, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News reports. It was later reported that he wouldn't return to the game, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News.

The Dallas Mavericks might have jumped on the Oklahoma City Thunder early in a matchup at the American Airlines Center, but it wouldn't hold for them. Late in t

That shooting performance put Daniel Gafford in the Mavericks' record books for the most games in team history without missing a shot (minimum of nine shots attempted). He also joined Lively and DeAndre Jordan as the only players in franchise history to have 20 points and 10 rebounds on perfect shooting, according to the Mavericks PR team.

Dallas Mavericks (26-22, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (23-24, eighth in the Eastern Conference) Detroit; Friday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Detroit comes into the matchup against Dallas as losers of three in a row.

Luka Doncic’s calf injury remains a major concern for the Dallas Mavericks, impacting their lineup significantly. Alongside him, key players like Dante Exum, Dereck Lively, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell,