Luka (calf) out at least a month, sources say

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will be re-evaluated in one month after sustaining a left calf strain in Wednesday’s Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told ESPN on Thursday night.

Doncic underwent an MRI and received multiple opinions on the injury Thursday, sources said.

Doncic exited late in the second quarter Wednesday after grimacing in pain when he planted on his left foot after picking up his dribble. He immediately looked toward the Mavs’ bench to indicate he was injured and was unable to get back on defense. After the Timberwolves scored, the Mavs called a timeout with 2:31 remaining in the first half to allow Doncic to leave the game. He hobbled to the locker room for further evaluation and was ruled out minutes later.

Doncic used crutches while leaving the arena postgame.

Doncic’s re-evaluation will come in 30 days, meaning he will miss at least 15 games and be eliminated from contention for the NBA’s awards, such as MVP and the All-NBA teams.

Doncic has a history of injuries to that calf. Most recently, he missed all of this year’s training camp and preseason because of a left calf contusion. This is the third time Doncic has strained the calf in recent years. He missed the first three games of the 2022 playoffs after straining it during the regular-season finale and was sidelined for most of the 2023 preseason after straining it during a practice in Madrid.

Doncic, a first-team All-NBA selection over the past five years, has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game this season.