The Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is expected to miss “extended time” after suffering a calf strain in a 99-105 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Doncic suffered the injury late in the second quarter and left to the locker room. He was ruled out shortly after and seen leaving the arena in crouches.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Doncic will undergo MRI testing to determine the severity of the injury, but the Mavs are already bracing to play without him for the next several games.
Doncic was having a great game against the Timberwolves, scoring 14 points with five rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes spent on the floor. He is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and career-high 2.0 steals per game this season.
Doncic’s injury comes at the time when the Mavs embarked on a hot stretch that saw them win eight of their 10 games preceding the loss against Minnesota. They are currently sitting fourth in the Western Conference witha 19-11 record and five games behind the leaders Oklahoma City Thunder.
“It stings for sure for all of us,” Mavs’ star guard Kyrie Irving said of Doncic’s injury. “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.”
