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Mavs star Luca Doncic (calf) out at least a month

Fri Dec 27 1:16am ET
Field Level Media

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will be re-evaluated in a month due to a left calf strain, ESPN reported late Thursday night.

The five-time All-Star sustained the injury during a 105-99 loss to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. After straining the calf on a seemingly harmless play in the second quarter, Doncic headed to the locker room and missed the entire second half.

Doncic underwent an MRI exam on Thursday and got input from several sources.

Before leaving the game, the 25-year-old native of Slovenia had 14 points, five rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes. ESPN reported that Doncic needed crutches to exit the arena.


The Mavericks are back in action on Friday against the Phoenix Suns in the opener of a four-game road trip. The Mavs then complete a back-to-back by facing the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday before closing the calendar year with a Monday night battle against the Sacramento Kings.

In 22 games (all starts) this season, Doncic has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 boards and 7.8 assists. He is shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from long range.

Doncic has been plagued by injuries all season, missing two straight games last week and five consecutive in late November. He has been sidelined for eight games in all.

Dallas fell to 19-11 with the loss on Wednesday.

Player Notes
Luka Doncic Fri Dec 27 8:30am

Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (calf) has been ruled out Friday against the Phoenix Suns. Doncic is expected to miss a significant amount of time after sustaining a calf injury on Christmas against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Doncic left American Airlines Center on crutches on Wednesday, with an MRI scan on Thursday confirming the guard had suffered a strain. Shams Charania has reported that Doncic will be re-evaluated in one month. With Doncic missing this many games, he will be ineligible for any postseason awards. Doncic, who scored 14 points in 16 minutes against the Wolves and is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game. Spencer Dinwiddie, who returned to the Mavs this off-season, will likely move into the starting lineup.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Fri Dec 27 2:00am

Oklahoma City's G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 45 points on 15-of-22 shooting in a 120-114 win over Indiana on Thursday, Dec. 26.

Stephen Curry Thu Dec 26 10:30pm

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (rest) won't play against the Clippers on Friday. The veteran is coming off a stellar Christmas Day performance against LeBron James and the Lakers, finishing with a game-high 38 points while shooting 8-for-15 from behind the arc. He'll likely be back on the floor on Saturday versus the Phoenix Suns, the second of back-to-back games for the Warriors. But while Curry is sidelined, Dennis Schroder will presumably handle the ball while seeing an increase in shot opportunities. Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, and Andrew Wiggins may also be in line for more scoring chances.

Kristaps Porzingis Thu Dec 26 10:20pm

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) is considered questionable for Friday's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. The veteran tweaked his ankle in the Christmas Day loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, ending his day after only 13 minutes of work. As a result, Luke Kornet got more action than normal and finished with six points and 10 rebounds. If Porzingis is sidelined on Friday night, Al Horford would likely slide over to the middle, with Sam Hauser potentially entering the starting lineup. Hauser has played well in two starts this season, averaging 16.5 points and shooting 50.0% from behind the arc, giving him some streaming value for fantasy managers if Porzingis doesn't suit up.

Jrue Holiday Thu Dec 26 10:20pm

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (shoulder) is questionable for Friday's game against the Pacers. The veteran has a right shoulder injury, which kept him off the floor for the Christmas Day loss to the 76ers. Al Horford moved into the starting lineup, finishing with 17 points and shooting 5-for-10 from behind the arc. With Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) also uncertain for Friday's contest, Horford could find himself back with the first five. Sam Hauser, averaging 16.5 points and 50.0% shooting from deep in two starts, and Payton Pritchard may also see an uptick in minutes and production behind Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White.

Domantas Sabonis Thu Dec 26 9:50pm

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (illness) won't play on Thursday against the Pistons. As usual, the 28-year-old has had a quality season, averaging a career-high 21.1 points with 13.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists. His next chance to get back on the floor will be on Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers. As far as Thursday is concerned, Alex Len and Trey Lyles are both in line for more minutes and scoring opportunities.

Ayo Dosunmu Thu Dec 26 6:50pm

Chuck Swirsky of the Bulls Radio Networkreports that Chicago Bulls guard/forwardAyo Dosunmu(Achilles) is unavailable against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. Right Achilles tendinopathy will keep him off the floor for the first time this season. Dosunmu is having a solid season, posting averages of 12.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 30.8 minutes across 30 contests. With Dosunmu,Lonzo Ball(illness),Matas Buzelis(illness), andJosh Giddey(ankle) all sidelined, 24-year-oldTalen Horton-Tucker will likely see more playing time than usual.

Lonzo Ball Thu Dec 26 6:50pm

Chicago Bulls point guardLonzo Ball(illness) won't suit up against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. He's been under the weather the entire week and will miss a second consecutive contest. Ball has had a decent comeback season, averaging 5.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 17.5 minutes off the Bulls bench.Coby White will have more offensive duties with Ball out of the lineup and will have to put in a massive shift on Thursday, asAyo Dosunmu(Achilles) andJosh Giddey(ankle) are both out.

Terry Rozier Thu Dec 26 6:30pm

Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier (knee) will be back from a one-game absence on Thursday versus Orlando. Inflammation in his left knee kept Rozier sidelined for Monday's clash with Brooklyn, but he makes a quick return to action after being initially considered questionable for Thursday's game. Rozier's last appearance came in a matchup against the Magic, where he posted 23 points. However, the veteran guard has been inconsistent with his offensive work, last hitting double figures in points in a second consecutive game on Dec. 1.

Pelle Larsson Thu Dec 26 6:30pm

Miami Heat shooting guard Pelle Larsson (ankle) will be in the lineup for Thursday's matchup against Orlando. He was listed on the initial injury report as questionable for the game, but Larsson has been upgraded to available. The 23-year-old rookie has averaged 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 16.8 minutes. However, he might have a bigger say in the rotation on Thursday, as the Heat remain without Jimmy Butler (conditioning) and have just lost Dru Smith (Achilles) for the season.

Josh Giddey Thu Dec 26 6:30pm

According to Chuck Swirsky of the Bulls Radio Network, Chicago Bulls guard/forwardJosh Giddey(ankle) will not suit up against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. He carried a questionable tag earlier in the day but has since been downgraded to unavailable due to an ankle sprain. The Bulls backcourt will be missing several key contributors, such as Lonzo Ball(illness) andAyo Dosunmu(Achilles), who have also been ruled out. Giddey was playing well this month before getting hurt, averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.7 steals.

Brandon Miller Thu Dec 26 6:20pm

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Brandon Miller (ankle) has received the all-clear to return from a three-game absence on Thursday versus Washington. He has recovered from a left ankle sprain. Miller sits behind LaMelo Ball as Charlotte's second-highest scorer with 21.5 points averaged. He's also notched 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 34.4 minutes. The Wizards get overrun regularly and give up the most points in the league, so Miller should enjoy a productive comeback. With Miller's return, Cody Martin loses fantasy value, as he likely has to give up his spot in the first unit.

Carlton Carrington Thu Dec 26 6:10pm

Washington Wizards rookie guard Bub Carrington (hip) will suit up for Thursday's matchup against Charlotte. He's yet to miss a game during his rookie campaign, but Carrington was initially considered questionable for Thursday's contest with a right-hip contusion. The 19-year-old has been a regular starter in December, averaging 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 32.7 minutes. Carrington's shooting has been inconsistent throughout his maiden season, and he had only two points against the Hornets last week in a 123-114 win.

Myles Turner Thu Dec 26 6:10pm

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (oblique) will be active against Oklahoma City on Thursday. The team listed him as questionable on the initial injury report, but Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has confirmed that Turner will play. The 28-year-old is coming off a nice 23-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Warriors. Only two teams allow more rebounds to opposing centers than OKC, so Turner should be able to flirt with another double-double on Thursday night. He's also currently on a four-game run with multiple blocks.

Bilal Coulibaly Thu Dec 26 6:00pm

Washington Wizards guard/forward Bilal Coulibaly (groin) will be available for Thursday's clash with Charlotte. He's shaken off a questionable tag ahead of tip-off. Coulibaly had one of his best outings of the season in his last appearance, finishing a 112-101 loss to Milwaukee with 20 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, one block, and three steals. He's put together a strong five-game offensive run, averaging 19.4 points. The stretch includes a 14-point effort against the Hornets, who are ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency.

Gary Harris Thu Dec 26 5:50pm

On Thursday, Orlando Magic guardGary Harris(hamstring) will not suit up against the Miami Heat. Harris is sidelined due to a hamstring strain that has kept him out of the rotation for the previous 12 contests. When he's been able to play, the 30-year-old has averaged fewer than 17 minutes per game for the season. However, if Harris can return at some point soon, he might take on a more significant role in the rotation since the Magic currently have several players out with injuries.

Jimmy Butler Thu Dec 26 5:40pm

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (conditioning) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup against Orlando. It was already unlikely that Butler would suit up for the contest after Miami listed him as doubtful on the initial injury report. Now, it's official that he will be unavailable for a third straight game. However, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Butler is expected to rejoin the lineup for the next game on Saturday versus Atlanta. Butler's absence has opened up additional playing opportunities for several players, including Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Haywood Highsmith. Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinsonhave more offensive duties.

Marvin Bagley III Thu Dec 26 5:40pm

Washington Wizards forward/center Marvin Bagley III (knee) will not be in the lineup on Thursday against Charlotte. He sprained his right knee against Oklahoma City on Monday, and it's not fully clear when Bagley II will be able to return to action. Washington's frontcourt also remains without Kyle Kuzma (ribs) on Thursday. The returning Alex Sarr (back) should have a busy night against the Hornets, along with Jonas Valanciunas, who racked up 12 points, 16 rebounds, and a pair of blocks on Monday.

Paolo Banchero Thu Dec 26 5:30pm

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (oblique) will sit out a 27th straight game on Thursday versus Miami but continues to progress. According to Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, Banchero has not gone through contact yet but is ramping up his conditioning. He's able to run up to higher speeds and can do some ball-handling work, along with some defensive work. The Magic will be desperate to get Banchero back as soon as possible following injuries to Franz Wagner (oblique) and Moritz Wagner (knee). Tristan Da Silva will have additional fantasy until Banchero returns, with players like Trevelin Queen and Cole Anthony also expected to contribute more.

John Collins Thu Dec 26 5:30pm

Utah Jazz forward/centerJohn Collins(hip) will not be playing against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. Collins has been suffering from a hip contusion and will miss his second consecutive contest. With the 27-year-old absent, Micah Potter will likely see more minutes and scoring opportunities than usual. In his last outing against the Cavs on Monday, he played 26 minutes with 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. Potter could have another productive game Thursday going against a terrible Blazers defense.


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