Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Mavericks star Luka Doncic, Trey Burke enter COVID protocols

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/22/21

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic was hoping to return to the court on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucs after missing five games because of a sore ankle.

Now he could potentially miss even more time. Doncic and fellow guard Trey Burke entered the COVID-19 protocols.

Luka Doncic and Trey Burke are two new cases. Mavs announced they have entered protocols. Doncic was hopeful to return Thursday vs. Bucks after missing last five games due to left ankle soreness. Burke is lone unvaccinated player on the roster. https://t.co/F1xWk5AwvM
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 22, 2021

Per NBA health and safety protocols, a player must have consecutive negative tests or quarantine for 10 days before he is allowed to return. This means Doncic would have to produce consecutive negative tests in order to play on Saturday night against the Jazz in Salt Lake City, a game that rounds out the NBA's Christmas Day lineup.

The league's packed Christmas schedule itself is being threatened as teams across the league struggle to put healthy rosters on the court. The NBA has moved rapidly to allow teams to sign players to 10-day contracts and make additional G league call-ups but is still preparing for the possibility that games on Christmas could also be postponed.

More must-reads: