Mavericks guard Luka Doncic might be sidelined for a minimum of a month after struggling a left calf strain within the second quarter of Wednesday’s loss to Minnesota, report ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon.
As Charania and MacMahon element, Doncic underwent an MRI on Thursday and consulted with a number of medical professionals to ascertain a return timeline. ESPN’s duo reported on Wednesday that the Mavs had been anticipating Doncic would miss an “prolonged time frame” with the damage, which prompted him to go away the sector on crutches.
Doncic appeared to undergo the damage when he drove into the lane whereas being defended by Jaden McDaniels. There was no contact to his left leg on the play.
In response to ESPN, that is the third time Doncic has strained his left calf prior to now few years. He additionally missed all preseason motion with a left calf contusion and not too long ago returned from a left heel contusion.
Doncic, who has made the All-NBA First Workforce every of the previous 5 seasons, will see that streak finish in 2024-25. He has already missed eight video games this season, and Dallas performs 16 video games between now and Jan. 25, which is across the time he’ll be reevaluated. That will put him on tempo to overlook a minimum of 24 video games, making him ineligible for main end-of-season awards, together with MVP, as a result of 65-game rule.
The 25-year-old famous person has averaged 28.1 factors, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists and a career-high 2.0 steals in 22 video games this season (35.7 minutes per contest). His taking pictures line is .464/.354/.767.
With Doncic out, star backcourt mate Kyrie Irving will tackle extra scoring and play-making duties. Quentin Grimes will probably begin in Doncic’s stead, with Spencer Dinwiddie, one other candidate for extra touches and minutes.
The Mavericks have succeeded with out Doncic in ’24-25, going 6-2. However the reigning Western Convention champions might be examined over the following a number of weeks with out their finest participant.
