NBA Notes: 76ers, Eric Gordon, Heat, Lakers, Luka Doncic

76ers

76ers veteran guard Eric Gordon will undergo surgery on his right wrist Wednesday, according to Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports. The team has not provided a timetable for his recovery.

Gordon, 36, has been sidelined since February 9 due to what was initially diagnosed as a sprained right wrist. After consulting with multiple specialists, the decision to proceed with surgery was made.

The news adds to a string of setbacks for the struggling 76ers, who have lost eight consecutive games, dropping them 17 games below .500. Gordon has appeared in 39 games (13 starts) this season, averaging 6.8 points and 1.7 assists in 19.7 minutes per contest.

Gordon signed a two-year, veteran’s minimum contract with the Sixers last offseason and holds a $3,468,960 option for next season. Given his current health situation, Gordon may be more likely to exercise that option before entering free agency.

Gordon’s injury contributed to the 76ers’ recent decision to sign Lonnie Walker.

Heat

Heat forward Nikola Jovic has been diagnosed with a fracture in the second metacarpal of his right hand, the team’s PR department confirmed in a tweet. He will wear a splint and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

The injury, which occurred during the first half of Sunday’s game against the Bucks, confirms the initial diagnosis and provides a clearer outlook on his recovery. At this time, surgery is not required.

With less than two months remaining in the regular season, Jovic’s injury could potentially end his campaign.

Through 46 games this season, the 21-year-old is averaging 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.8 steals, with shooting splits of .456/.371/.828.

Miami exercised Jovic’s $4.45 million team option for the fourth and final year of his rookie-scale contract ahead of the season, keeping him under team control through the 2025-26 campaign. With Jovic sidelined, Kyle Anderson and Jaime Jaquez are expected to take on expanded roles.

Lakers

After news broke earlier this month that the Mavericks were trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers in one of the most unexpected deals in recent NBA history, reports began to surface questioning Doncic’s weight and conditioning.

While the five-time All-NBA guard did not publicly address the leaks, a source close to Doncic tells ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that they have served as a source of motivation for him as he adjusts to his new team.

“A beast was awakened inside him,” the source said.

On Tuesday, Doncic will have the chance to face off against the organization that traded him, as the Lakers begin a six-game home stand by hosting a banged-up Mavericks squad. The matchup is expected to be an emotional one, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Doncic, “I think he’ll be fine. Every day that he’s been with us, it’s becoming a little more normal. I’ve been there. The first time you play your old team, particularly this close in time duration, it’s going to be weird. But he’ll be OK.”

While the game holds significant meaning for Doncic, his new teammates are also eager to support him as he faces his former team, with forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a former Mavs player, saying, “I’m excited, man. I know (Doncic is) gonna be ready but I try not to put too much pressure on him because at the end of the day, we just want to get the win. We get the win, I know he’s gonna be happy.”

Doncic, who struggled in his first three games as a Laker after recovering from a calf strain, averaged just 14.7 points on 35.6% shooting. However, he showed signs of his old self on Saturday in Denver, posting 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals in a 23-point win over the Nuggets.

Mavs teammates are prepared to see that version of Doncic on Tuesday.

“I expect him to bring his A-game,” said Mavs forward P.J. Washington, via Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News. “Knowing just the player he is, the mentality he brings to the game, I know he’s going to be ready as soon as we get out there. We can’t wait to compete against him. We miss him, but at the end of the day, he’s our brother and we’re always going to love him but we just gotta go out there and compete against him.”

Mavs guard Kyrie Irving added, “I would love to get into the emotions after the game, but before the game it’s just about having fun and making sure that we lock in and have a deep focus. They’re going to come in and be ready to play against us. Luka’s obviously going to have a lot of confidence in that game. He played well the last game so he’s feeling good. We just have to be aware.”