Only one day after Luka Doncic's much-awaited return to action, the Dallas Mavericks announced that another star player has fallen victim to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Kristaps Porzingis entered the NBA’s health and safety protocol and will be out for an indefinite period, starting with Monday night’s game against Denver.
Porzingis is the 11th Maverick to be on the COVID-19 list since mid-December, joining Trey Burke, Ja’Quori McLaughlin, Boban Marjanovic and Isaiah Thomas among active player cases.
Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber returned from COVID-19 protocol to lead Sunday’s win in Oklahoma City, which Porzingis sat out for rest in anticipation of playing Monday.
Doncic and Porzingis have played together in just 15 of the Mavericks’ 36 games so far, and none since Dec. 10, when Doncic re-twisted his ankle in Indiana.
In Doncic’s absence, Porzingis averaged 22.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, three assists and 2.3 blocks through eight games despite dealing with right toe soreness that cost him two games and hampered his mobility.
All Mavericks players except for Burke were fully vaccinated to start the season before booster shots became widely available.
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