DALLAS — Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic exited Thursday’s 111-106 win over the New Orleans Pelicans after suffering a right heel contusion during the third quarter.
Doncic came up limping after a scary fall on an attempted dunk that was blocked by Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter. Doncic collided with New Orleans center Jonas Valanciunas in midair.
Doncic limped to the Mavs’ bench during the ensuing timeout, when the Pelicans successfully challenged a foul called on Ingram. Doncic stayed in the game for one possession and then looked toward coach Jason Kidd and shook his head, indicating he needed to exit.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and have a better update to give you,” Kidd said after the game.
Dallas led by 27 points when Doncic, who had 31 points in 23 minutes, checked out and went straight to the locker room along with Mavs athletic training staff members.
“No matter what the score was, he wasn’t coming back,” Kidd said.
Doncic, an All-Star starter, missed one game last week after spraining his left ankle a few minutes into the Mavs’ win over the Phoenix Suns.
The Mavs, who open a five-game road trip Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors, are 0-6 in games missed by Doncic this season.