Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic can be re-evaluated in a single month after struggling a left calf pressure in Wednesday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in accordance with ESPN’s Shams Charania. 

The damage got here as Doncic tried to drive on Timberwolves defender Jaden McDaniels. He stopped his dribble, rotated, and handed the ball again out in obvious ache. He exited the sport after with what has now been decided to be that calf pressure.

Doncic, who underwent an MRI on Thursday, has a historical past of accidents to his left calf, together with lacking this season’s coaching camp and preseason on account of a calf contusion.

Luka prone to be ineligible for MVP, different awards

The damage is disappointing on quite a few ranges. The obvious is that Dallas, at present the No. 4 seed within the Western Convention with a 19-11 file, will now be with out its finest participant for a minimum of a month. In an ultra-competitive West, that would price the Mavericks seeding as they try and repeat as an NBA finalist.

The damage additionally all however ensures that Doncic won’t attain 65 video games this season, that means he won’t be eligible for the MVP award or All-NBA groups. Doncic has already missed eight video games and has by no means gained the award, however has been a fixture within the race all through his profession and sometimes rounds into type round this time of 12 months after sluggish begins. Earlier than the Minnesota recreation, Doncic had been averaging roughly 30 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists in December.

Luckily, the Mavericks have largely held their very own with out Doncic this season. They’re 6-2 within the eight video games that he has missed due to Kyrie Irving and the deep, versatile supporting solid that normal supervisor Nico Harrison has put round Doncic. 

That group will now be examined greater than ever because it makes an attempt to navigate a minimum of the following month with Doncic recovering.