Irving's 39 Points Not Enough as Mavericks Fall to Timberwolves, Dončić Suffers Injury, and Thompson Makes History: 'This Time Fights'
Irving scores 39, but the Mavericks fall to the Timberwolves as Dončić exits with a calf injury and Thompson passes Reggie Miller on the all-time 3-point list.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks (19-11) faced adversity on Christmas Day as Luka Dončić exited the game with a left calf strain, ultimately falling 105-99 to the Minnesota Timberwolves (15-14) at American Airlines Center. The defeat marked Dallas' fourth loss in eight Christmas Day appearances.
Dončić’s injury late in the second quarter left the Mavericks without their star player for the remainder of the contest. He contributed 14 points, converting five of nine field goal attempts and three of five shots from beyond the arc. Dončić also tallied five rebounds, two assists, and one steal in just 16 minutes of action.
The Slovenian superstar’s injury forced Kyrie Irving to shoulder the offensive burden. Irving recorded a game-high 39 points on 14-of-27 shooting, including five made three-pointers and six successful free throws. Despite Irving’s efforts, Dallas was unable to complete the comeback.
Fast Start, Sudden Setback
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Dallas Hoops Journal to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.