Mavericks Brace for Extended Absence as Luka Dončić Suffers Calf Injury in Loss to Timberwolves
Luka Dončić exited with a left calf strain late in the second quarter of the Dallas Mavericks’ 105-99 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Day.
Dončić had 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 16 minutes before sustaining the non-contact injury on a drive. He grabbed at his left leg and left for the locker room at the next stoppage in play. The injury, which occurred on a non-contact play, leaves Dončić’s availability for the Mavericks’ upcoming road trip in question.
Dončić grimaced and immediately grabbed at his lower leg after driving to the basket with just over two minutes remaining in the first half. He stayed on the court briefly but signaled to the bench shortly after, leaving the game at the next stoppage of play. The Mavericks lost 105-99 to the Timberwolves, snapping a seven-game home win streak.
Before his exit, Dončić had been effective, contributing 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including three three-pointers. In just 16 minutes, he also recorded five rebounds, two assists, and a steal, continuing to orchestrate Dallas’ offense alongside Kyrie Irving.
Irving, who led the Mavericks with 39 points in Dončić’s absence, reflected on the emotional toll of seeing his teammate go down.
“It stings for sure for all of us,” Irving said. “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.”
Despite a furious comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, Dončić’s absence loomed large. The Mavericks struggled to generate consistent offense in the third quarter, allowing Minnesota to extend their lead to as much as 28 points. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Dallas rallied back, coming as close as two points in clutch time.
“Just being human and seeing one of your brothers go down… you still have to regulate your emotions, and that can be difficult,” Irving explained. “We were just riding the waves of that and then being able to respond after halftime,” Irving said. “We felt like we had a chance going into the fourth quarter, even with the deficit. This team fights.”
Head coach Jason Kidd acknowledged that the team would need to rally together if Dončić missed extended time.
“Injuries happen, and you can’t dwell on them. The schedule doesn’t stop, and neither do the teams we’re going up against,” Kidd said. “We trust the group we have to compete every night, regardless of who’s out there. It’s about staying ready, staying together, and making sure everyone is locked in. That’s what good teams do.”
The Mavericks begin a four-game road trip Friday with a back-to-back against the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers. Dončić left the American Airlines Center on crutches and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury.
Dončić’s status remains uncertain, but the injury compounds a challenging start to the season for the five-time All-Star. He previously missed two games with a left heel contusion, five with a right wrist sprain, and one with a right knee contusion.
“Hopefully this will be his last [injury], and hopefully it’s not too serious,” Kidd said.
Dončić has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 22 games this season. Dallas is 6-2 in games he has missed. However, the team hopes to overcome losing its primary playmaker and leading scorer quickly.
“We’ve done well without Luka at times, but I’d rather have him healthy,” Irving said. “When one of your leaders goes down, the rest of the team has to step up in every way—whether that’s scoring, defending, or just bringing energy. This road trip is an opportunity for us to grow stronger as a unit.”
Dallas faces the Suns on Friday at Footprint Center, with tipoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CST. Updates on Dončić’s condition are expected in the coming days as the Mavericks monitor his recovery.
