A Christmas Day nightmare unfolded for Dallas fans as Luka Doncic left the game with a calf injury, watching their Mavericks fall 105-99 to Minnesota at home.
The star guard limped off the court late in the second quarter, leaving fans at the American Airlines Center holding their breath while awaiting MRI results.
Before the injury, Doncic was putting on a show. He’d dropped 14 points in just 16 minutes, continuing his impressive season where he’s averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game.
Things fell apart quickly after he left. The Mavs found themselves down by 28 points in the third quarter without their floor general.
They didn’t give up though. A late comeback push had fans on their feet, but Kyrie Irving’s potential game-changing three-pointer wouldn’t fall.
“It’s kind of deflating,” said Klay Thompson, who hit a career milestone by moving to fifth on the all-time three-point list. “We obviously are not the same without Luka in the lineup.”
The injury happened on what seemed like a routine offensive play. Doncic suddenly stopped running and grabbed his lower leg. He couldn’t move until a timeout was called, then slowly made his way to the locker room with two minutes left in the first half.
It’s especially tough timing since he’d just returned from a heel injury that kept him out for two games.
Coach Jason Kidd stayed positive despite the setback. “I think this is a group that can win,” he said, pointing to the team’s impressive 6-2 record without Doncic this season. “But we also need him. If we want to win a championship, we need him healthy.”
The team’s holding its breath, hoping this latest setback isn’t serious for their 24-year-old superstar.
