Doncic: Morris apologized for stepping on my ankle during last year's playoffs

Luka Doncic said Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris apologized to him earlier this season for stepping on his ankle during their playoff series last year, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

The Dallas Mavericks star revealed late Sunday the two of them have smoothed things over since their contentious matchup in the bubble, and Doncic said he's eager to compete against the 31-year-old again as the Mavericks and Clippers prepare for yet another first-round battle this year.

"He's a hell of a player, hell of a defender," Doncic told reporters. "Trash talk is always there, and if it's not, you're not really competing. It's going to be great."

As Doncic positioned himself to receive an inbound pass in Game 5 last August, Morris moved in on the Mavericks star but caught his left ankle, which had already been injured earlier in the series.

Tensions between the two then escalated further in Game 6, when Morris was ejected for a flagrant-2 foul on Doncic as the Clippers eliminated the Mavericks.

The Clippers big man denied he intended to step on Doncic's ankle and said he wouldn't apologize for what he deemed a "mistake." However, after Game 6, Doncic criticized Morris for his playing style and suggested he was a dirty player.

This year's playoffs are set to begin May 22 following the culmination of the play-in tournament. The NBA has not yet scheduled a day or time for Game 1 between the Clippers and Mavericks.