Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić has been ruled out for the remainder of a Christmas Day matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a calf strain. Dončić sustained the injury during the game and subsequently returned to the locker room after the incident.

Prior to this injury, Dončić had only missed one game in the season, which was on November 17 against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a right knee contusion. Despite his absence, the Mavericks secured a narrow victory against the Thunder, winning 121-119. The season did not initially progress as anticipated for Dallas after their appearance in the NBA Finals the previous year, starting the season with a record of 5-7 through their first twelve games. However, the team managed to rebound with a three-game win streak, bringing their record above .500 before Dončić's November wrist injury.

As of now, the Mavericks have turned their season around and boast a record of 19-10. Dončić has been performing at an MVP-caliber level, averaging 28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. While these numbers reflect a decline from last year's impressive averages of 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds, it is noteworthy that Dončić has a history of elevating his performance in the latter stages of the season. Nevertheless, any extended absence from the star player could significantly impact the Mavericks' overall competitiveness. In Dončić's absence, Kyrie Irving will be tasked with shouldering a larger portion of the offensive responsibilities for Dallas.