Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić departed Wednesday’s 105-99 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves after sustaining a left calf injury. Dončić, during the second quarter of the Christmas Day clash at the American Airlines Center, was executing a play near the elbow when he abruptly halted and distributed the ball to a teammate. Subsequently, he began to limp noticeably, displaying signs of distress as the action proceeded in the opposite direction. Eventually, Dončić exited the court and proceeded to the locker room under his own power, albeit with a pronounced limp.
The Mavericks announced at halftime that Dončić was sidelined due to a left calf injury. Additional details regarding the injury are currently unavailable, though it is noted that he had previously encountered a calf strain during the preseason. Despite this previous setback, Dončić managed to recover in time for the commencement of the regular season.
Dončić’s contributions in the game totaled 14 points and five rebounds in a span of 16 minutes. He shot 5-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. The 25-year-old had been maintaining impressive averages close to 29 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game throughout the season.
Minnesota surged ahead during the second quarter, establishing a commanding 17-point lead by halftime. Their defensive efforts limited Dallas to a mere 16 points in the second quarter, extending their lead to 26 points by the third quarter. Nevertheless, Dallas staged a remarkable and spirited comeback in the final period, outscoring Minnesota 31-11 and narrowing the deficit to just one possession in the closing minutes. However, the Mavericks’ late surge proved insufficient to alter the outcome, as Minnesota held on to secure a six-point victory, highlighted by key baskets from Anthony Edwards down the stretch.
Edwards led the Timberwolves with 26 points and eight rebounds, propelling them to a 15-14 record for the season. Julius Randle narrowly missed achieving a triple-double, contributing 23 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, while Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 10 rebounds to the winning effort.
In Dončić’s absence, Kyrie Irving assumed a leading role for the Mavericks, delivering an impressive performance with 39 points on 14-of-27 shooting. Additionally, Klay Thompson contributed 12 points, connecting on four 3-pointers. The Mavericks are scheduled to face the Phoenix Suns in their upcoming game on Friday, marking the commencement of a challenging four-game road trip.
