Mavs’ All-Star starter Doncic sprains right ankle again

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks standout guard Luka Doncic has hurt his right ankle again just more than two weeks before he is set to start the All-Star Game.

Doncic will miss the Mavericks’ game in Houston on Friday night. He missed four games after hurting the same ankle last month.

Coach Rick Carlisle said the 20-year-old Doncic, who on Feb. 16 would be the youngest All-Star starter since LeBron James, turned his ankle in practice Thursday.

“We don’t know the status,” Carlisle said after practice. “We obviously hope it’s not serious, but we don’t know.”

Doncic didn’t travel with the team to Houston and was expected to have an MRI. The Mavericks are back home Saturday night to play Atlanta.

The NBA rookie of the year last season, Doncic is averaging 28.8 points, 8.7 assists and 9.5 rebounds per game in his 43 games this season.

He leads the NBA with 12 triple-doubles, two more than James. Doncic’s 20 career triple-doubles are one short of matching Jason Kidd’s franchise record.