Luka Dončić exits Christmas Day showdown against Timberwolves with calf injury

During a play on offense, Dončić suddenly halted, made a pass, and then grabbed at his lower legs on Wednesday. He remained on the court until the Mavericks were able to call a timeout, and then he exited the game 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 right wrist sprain 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.