The Dallas Mavericks might be in trouble. For anyone who tuned in late to the Christmas day slate, they may have been asking: What happened to Luka Doncic? Unfortunately, he suffered a left calf strain during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The injury occurred late in the second quarter and he could not return. Luka was visibly hurt after a non-contact play, never a good sign. The Mavericks have been playing great basketball and the Mavericks record is currently 19-11. However, this Luka injury will be a test for a team largely centered around their star’s greatness.
Dallas Mavericks Need to Withstand Another Luka Injury
What Happened To Luka Doncic?
After Luka left the Christmas rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals with a calf strain, fans everywhere wondered how bad the injury was. Shams Charania reported that Luka is going for an MRI on Thursday but is expected to miss extended time with the calf injury.
Luka has been injured at various points this season, including a left heel contusion that caused him to miss two recent games. He has dealt with knee, groin, calf, wrist, heel, and foot injuries all just this season. Before this year, Doncic had been relatively durable. He’s played at least 65 games in every season but one. This new trend however must make Mavericks fans a bit uneasy.
The Impact of Another Luka Injury
As he has since his rookie season, Luka is the center of the Mavericks offense. He started the season as one of the favorites to win MVP. He has been living up to his expectations, Luka is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. These are all down from last season. Still, Doncic’s stats are right there as some of the best numbers in the league.
Without Luka, Dallas theoretically should be in trouble. The team has shown however that in his absence, they can survive. They have a 6-2 record in games he hasn’t played this season. Kyrie Irving, the team’s other superstar, will need to shoulder a heavier offensive load, while players like Klay Thompson and PJ Washington must step up.
Can the Mavericks Survive a Luka Injury?
Early reports suggest the Mavericks are bracing for an extended absence. Luka was seen leaving the arena on crutches, a concerning sign for the team and its fans.
The Mavericks are currently 19-11 so they have a bit of a cushion to fall back on. Despite their recent success, losing Luka for any length of time could seriously hurt the Mavericks record. Non-contact injuries like the one Luka suffered often carry the risk of more serious underlying issues, making Thursday’s MRI results pivotal.
In Luka’s absence, the Mavericks’ depth will be tested. As Klay Thompson said,
“It sucks, and it’s kind of deflating. But we’re lucky to have a deep roster.”
Whether that depth will be enough to sustain the team through this challenging period remains to be seen. They did it before, so the Mavericks are hoping to repeat that same recipe.
