Injured Luka Doncic ruled out by Mavericks as Knicks catch break

DALLAS — The streaking Knicks are catching a break against one of their rivals.

Luka Doncic, the dark-horse NBA MVP candidate, has been ruled out of Thursday’s matchup against the Knicks with an ankle sprain, the Mavericks announced.

The injury leaves the Mavericks without their top scorer and gives extra responsibility to Kyrie Irving, who returned from a heel bruise last week.

Irving’s head-to-head with Jalen Brunson is the evening’s matchup to watch.

Last season, Doncic destroyed the Knicks in Dallas with a 60-point triple-double, helping the Mavericks erase a nine-point deficit with 33 seconds remaining in regulation before winning the game in OT.

Doncic, 24, is averaging 33.6 points, 9.1 assists and 8.1 rebounds this season for the Mavericks (22-16).

He would’ve been the latest test for OG Anunoby, who was likely to draw the daunting defensive assignment.

The Knicks (22-15) are riding a five-game winning streak, the longest in the NBA.

They were swept last season by the Mavericks.