Mavericks' Luka Doncic out Wednesday vs. Lakers with left ankle soreness

The 14-13 Dallas Mavericks will be without superstar Luka Doncic for the third straight game.

Per Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Dallas ruled Doncic out for Wednesday's clash with the 15-13 Los Angeles Lakers because of left ankle soreness. The two-time First-Team All-NBA selection originally suffered what were reported to be sprains to his left knee and left ankle against the Denver Nuggets back on Nov. 15 and missed the subsequent three contests. The 22-year-old hasn't yet returned to full fitness, and he turned that same ankle in this past Friday's loss at the Indiana Pacers. 

"I probably shouldn't have played the fourth [quarter]," Doncic later said about trying to tough it out in that game. "I wasn't feeling very good, but I tried to be out there."

Dallas notched wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets this week without Doncic. According to ESPN stats, he leads the Mavericks with 25.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game this season. 

The Lakers, meanwhile, canceled their Tuesday practice after guard Talen Horton-Tucker tested positive for COVID-19. Wednesday's game between Dallas and Los Angeles remained on, as scheduled, as of Tuesday afternoon.