In a concerning development for the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day, superstar guard Luka Doncic was forced to exit their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves late in the second quarter due to an apparent aggravation of his left heel contusion. The injury, which had caused Doncic to miss two recent games, flared up when he planted his left foot after picking up his dribble.
Doncic immediately grimaced in pain and signaled to the Mavericks bench that he was hurt. Unable to get back on defense for the ensuing possession, the MVP candidate limped straight to the locker room with 2:31 remaining in the first half as Dallas called a timeout.
Doncic’s Dominant Season Derailed?
Before the concerning exit, Doncic had scored 14 points in 16 minutes of action against the Timberwolves. The 23-year-old Slovenian wunderkind entered the Christmas Day contest averaging a robust 28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game, placing him firmly in the thick of the NBA MVP race.
While the full extent of Doncic’s injury is not yet known, any extended absence would be a massive blow to a Mavericks squad that has relied heavily on their franchise player’s otherworldly production. Dallas entered the game with a 17-16 record, sitting in 7th place in the hotly contested Western Conference.
A History of Heel Problems
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Doncic has been hampered by issues with his left heel. He previously sat out losses to the Rockets and Cavaliers in December due to a heel contusion, an injury that appears to have been reaggravated on the Christmas Day stage.
“Luka is the heart and soul of this Mavericks team. Seeing him limp off the court like that is definitely concerning, especially given his history with that left heel. The Mavs’ season essentially rides on Doncic’s health.”
– ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy on the broadcast
Waiting for Word on Severity
Mavericks fans, and NBA fans in general, will now anxiously await further updates on the severity of Doncic’s injury. Any significant time missed would be a harsh blow, both to Doncic’s MVP chances and the Mavericks’ prospects in a brutally competitive Western Conference playoff picture.
The NBA’s Christmas Day slate is traditionally a showcase for the league’s elite teams and biggest superstars. Losing one of the game’s brightest young talents in Luka Doncic to injury casts a pall over what should be a celebratory occasion.
As the basketball world holds its collective breath, all eyes will be on the Mavericks’ locker room for any indication of how much time, if any, their MVP candidate may be forced to miss. In the unforgiving Western Conference, even a short absence for Doncic could prove very costly for Dallas’ playoff positioning.
