Injuries have not been kind to Luka Doncic so far this season and it appears the latest issue is his calf.
Late in the second quarter, the Mavericks superstar was making a move on Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels when he felt something in his left calf and immediately passed the ball away and hardly moved. He looked toward the bench signalling he needed to come out of the game and didn’t bother getting back on defense.
The Wolves were leading by 13 at the time of the injury and carried a 57-40 lead into halftime.
Doncic was confirmed out for the remainder of the game at halftime. He finished the game with 14 points, two rebounds, two steals, and a block in 16 minutes.
Luka Doncic went back to the locker room after an apparent injury on this play. pic.twitter.com/R8xlcLdeHQ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 25, 2024
Doncic missing games
The 25-year-old was playing his second game after missing a couple games due to a left heel contusion, and it will be a concern that the same leg has now experienced another injury.
Doncic missed five games earlier in the season due to a sprained right wrist and the injuries are starting to pile up. With eight total games missed on the season, any extended absence could have larger ramifications.
Last season, the NBA mandated a 65-game minimum for individual awards such as Most Valuable Player and All-NBA teams, which means Doncic can only afford to miss nine more games the remainder of the season to be eligible.
Averaging 28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 2.0 steals in 21 games, Doncic is having another MVP caliber season and would be a lock for the All-NBA team if he’s actually eligible to be selected.
Mavs finding ways without Doncic
While Doncic is the biggest variable in the Mavs’ ceiling, Dallas has been pretty good in the absence of their best player to the tune of a 6-2 record.
Kyrie Irving has been terrific when Doncic hasn’t been around, averaging 24.1 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds in seven games.
Dallas is 19-10 on the season, fourth in the Western conference. Denver is hot on its heels in fifth with a 16-11 record, while the Clippers (17-13), Lakers (16-13), and Warriors (15-13) aren’t far behind.
In somewhat related news, Jimmy Butler reiterated his interest to be traded from Miami and the Mavs remain on his list of preferred destinations.
