Luka Dončić leaves the Christmas match vs. Timberwolves with strained calf

On By Littum

Luka Dončić limps off the court in the 2nd quarter with a strained calf and will not return.

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DALLAS (AP) – Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić limped off the court in the second quarter and was ruled out of a Christmas Day game against Minnesota with a left calf strain.

Dončić ran an offensive game, he stopped, passed and reached for the lower legs on Wednesday. He stayed where he was until the Mavs could call timeout and he was able to leave the court with 2:31 left in the first half.

It was the second game back for Dončić after the five-time All-Star missed two games with a left heel contusion.

Dončić missed five games this season with a sprained right wrist and had been sidelined eight times before the Christmas meeting with the Timberwolves.

The Mavericks trailed by 13 when Dončić left the game and were down 57-40 at halftime in a matchup of last season’s Western Conference finalists. Dallas won that series.