Dallas Mavericks star guard Luka Dončić could be out “for an extended period of time,” ESPN reports.
The reigning scoring champion sustained what is presumed to be calf injury when he planted onto his left foot during the second quarter of the Mavericks’ 105-99 loss to the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Dončić was seen using crutches when he left the arena and, as ESPN reports, is expected to undergo an MRI on his calf on Thursday.
It is suspected that he strained the muscle, though the severity of the injury — and how long it will keep him sidelined for — is currently unknown.
“It stings for sure for all of us,” Kyrie Irving told reporters after the game. “Praying for Luka just to have a speedy recovery, however long the timetable is. We’re going to have to adjust. It’s just the nature of the business. Hopefully, he just takes his time and comes back when he’s ready.”
With his co-star sidelined for the entirety of the second-half, Irving carried the Mavericks all the way back into contention — erasing a 28-point second-half deficit.
It was a one-possession game in the final minute, but the Timberwolves escaped with the win.
Irving finished with 26 points, including 15 in the final frame, but was unable to connect from behind the arc with about 36 seconds remaining — a shot that would have given Dallas the lead.
“We put ourselves in position,” head coach Jason Kidd said in his postgame presser. “[Irving] had a good look at the 3. It was short, but we’ll take that shot all day.”
A loss to the 15-14 Timberwolves stings, but Dončić’s injury overshadows every number in the box score.
In his seventh NBA season, the five-time MVP is averaging 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists.
Thanks to the one-two punch of he and Irving, aided in no small part by the clinical shooting of newcomer Klay Thompson, Dallas had climbed to a 19-11 record, good for fourth place in the Western Conference.
Dallas has weathered the storm without Dončić for portions of the season thus far.
The former Rookie of the Year has missed a total of eight games to date with a slew of injuries, including contusions to both knees and a wrist sprain.
Dončić is no stranger to calf injuries either.
He was sidelined for the duration of training camp and preseason because of a contusion.
That was the second calf strain he’d suffered recently, and Wednesday’s injury is presumed to be the third.
“Hopefully, this will be his last [injury],” Kidd said. “Hopefully, it’s not too serious.”
