Luka Dončić may miss extended time with calf injury
DALLAS, TX -DECEMBER 25 : Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks leaves the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half at American Airlines Center on December 25, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks may be without Luka Dončić for a while after he suffered an injury on Christmas Day.
What We Know: Late in the second quarter, Dončić suffered a non-contact injury where he became noticeably uncomfortable and passed the ball. The five-time All-Star stayed in that spot on the floor until the Mavericks called a timeout and limped off the court.
The injury was later described as a left calf strain.
The game against the Minnesota Timberwolves was Doncic's second game back after he missed two games with a left heel contusion.
Dončić, 25, has a history of issues with his left calf. The injury forced him to sit out of the first three games of the 2022 playoffs.
What's Next: The superstar guard will have an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of the injury.
What We Don't Know: We do not know how long Dončić will be out. Reports from ESPN's Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon say the Mavs are bracing to be without their star for an "extended period of time."
By The Numbers: Dončić is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game this season.
So far this season, the Mavericks are 6-2 in games without Dončić.
What They're Saying: "It sucks, and it's kind of deflating. We're lucky to have such a deep roster, and that's why we can withstand this time without him. We obviously are not the same without Luka in the lineup," said Mavs forward Klay Thompson. "We are going to do everything we can to go on a run here without him."
"I think this is a group that can win. I believe that, and they’ve shown that, the record speaks for itself, but we also need him, and so he’s been hit with some injuries here of late. Hopefully this one isn’t that serious because we need him if we want to win a championship," said Mavs head coach Jason Kidd.