Dallas Mavericks All-Star Luka Doncic will not play Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves because of a left thumb sprain, according to the team.
Doncic played through the injury during Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat but said afterward that he had trouble catching the ball.
“I didn’t know how important the thumb was to hold the ball,” said Doncic, who turned 21 on Friday. “It was tough. … I wasn’t myself today. Just have to learn from that and move on.”
Coach Rick Carlisle said he was unsure about Doncic’s status for Monday’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
“It was pretty clear in the Miami game that it’s really a problem,” Carlisle said of Doncic’s injury. “He’ll be out today, and tomorrow we’ll see where we are.”
Doncic is averaging 28.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game, leading Dallas in all three categories.
The Mavericks are also without Jalen Brunson (right shoulder sprain), Willie Cauley-Stein (personal reasons) and Dwight Powell (right Achilles surgery) against the Timberwolves. Carlisle said Cauley-Stein will rejoin the team in Chicago.