Luka Dončić is hopeful he plays against the Kings at some point this weekend.

The Mavericks star has been ruled out of Dallas' Friday night contest against the Kings -- the first game of a back-to-back at Golden 1 Center -- with lingering heel pain.

Dončić's injury has caused him to miss the Mavericks' last three games.

Speaking with reporters during shootaround, the 23-year-old said that while his heel is getting better "every day," he added that it hurts when walking and when doing high-impact movements.

"I mean, it's a little bit of both, but especially in the morning when you wake up, before getting warmed up and everything," Dončić said.

It appears NBA, Mavericks and Kings fans alike will have to wait to see the backcourt duo of Dončić and the newly-acquired Kyrie Irving in action. During Kings shootaround, Kevin Huerter described the task that lies ahead for Sacramento should Dončić and Irving play together Saturday. 

"Yeah, two guys that are mostly unguardable in this league one-on-one, guys you obviously got to prepare for," Huerter explained to reporters. "They got a really good team around them, a lot of shooters that you can't leave open, so they definitely present a lot of problems."

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With Dončić and Irving possibly leading the Mavericks together Saturday, fans can expect a fast-paced, high-scoring game.

And while a game like that certainly is in Sacramento's wheelhouse, first time All-Star De'Aaron Fox and the Kings have shown they can win "ugly," too, if it comes to that against Dončić and the Mavericks.