Breaking news : mavericks  step up after Luka Doncic’s devastating calf injury

 

On Wednesday afternoon, the Dallas Mavericks had their Christmas Day ruined at the American Airlines Center.

Late in the second quarter, Luka Doncic went down with a calf strain and did not return to the game. Doncic is seemingly always dealing with a hurt calf, and the lower body injuries keep coming for the Slovenian superstar.

 

Doncic has dealt with a heel contusion, calf contusion, and a knee contusion just this season, and him suffering this calf strain just two games after returning from his heel contusion is not ideal. He knew that he was seriously injured right away, and the reporting of what’s going on with Doncic has reflected that as well.

 

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Mavericks “are bracing for star Luka Doncic to miss an extended period of time.” This is not the news that Mavs fans wanted to hear, and they are going to be forced to seriously adapt.

 

The Mavs have played well in Doncic’s absence at other times this season, as they are 6-2 without him, and these Mavericks are going to have to make their presence felt while he is sidelined.

 

Naji Marshall was excellent during Doncic’s absence earlier in the season, and the Mavs have to get him going following two straight performances.

In the eight games that Doncic has missed this season, Marshall has averaged 16.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while shooting 56.0 percent from the field and 48.3 percent from downtown, and the Mavs are going to need more of this. Marshall already handles the ball often with Doncic in the lineup, and he is only going to be bringing the ball up even more without him.