NBA Notes: Lakers, Luka Doncic, Mavs, Pelicans, Zion Williamson, Hornets 

LAKERS

Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for the Lakers for Wednesday night against the Jazz with a calf issue, per Khobi Price of the LA Daily News.

Doncic scored 14 points in his Lakers debut on Monday, a 132-113 win over those same Jazz. (Wednesday’s game is at Utah.)

“The way they received me, everybody, it was amazing to see,” Doncic told reporters. “I was a little bit nervous before. I don’t remember the last time I was nervous before the game. But once I stepped on the court, it was fun. And just being out there again felt amazing.”

MAVERICKS

Mavs center Daniel Gafford sustained a right knee sprain against the Kings on Monday and will be reevaluated within the next two weeks, the team’s PR department tweeted.

So far this season Gafford has started 28 games, averaging 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks on 21 minutes. 

“The Dallas Mavericks announced today that Mavericks center Daniel Gafford sustained a right knee sprain during the Feb. 10 game against the Sacramento Kings,” the team’s PR department wrote. “Gafford will be re-evaluated within two weeks with relevant updates to follow as appropriate.”

We have the full story on all the Mavs’ frontcourt injuries here.

PELICANS

Despite his injury history, Zion Williamson is still the focal point of the Pelicans’ future plans, according to executive VP of basketball operations David Griffin.

“If you take just his body of work this year, what he’s done for us when he’s been healthy, he’s taking steps every day and he’s grown by leaps and bounds, both on the court and off,” Griffin told reporters. “The player he is now is better than he’s ever been.”  

HORNETS

Newly acquired center Jusuf Nurkic will make his debut for the Hornets on Wednesday against the Magic, per NBA insider Chris Haynes. 

“The plan is to try to put Nurk in his best position to be successful when he’s on the court,” coach Charles Lee said, via Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “We are still trying to learn him and learn his body, and we want to put him out there at a time when we think he’s ready to hit the ground running.

“So, he’s been phenomenal since he’s been here, asking questions and doing what we can do since the trade has cleared. And we’ll see what it looks like for him as he continues to ramp up his workload.”