Mavs Guard J.J. Barea Sidelined By Leg Injury

Mavericks veteran point guard J.J. Barea will be sidelined approximately six weeks because of a left leg injury, according to an ESPN report.

Barea pulled up lame while dribbling the ball during the team’s 90-83 loss to the Celtics on Wednesday night. He was diagnosed with tear in a muscle connecting his left calf to his Achilles tendon. A full month of rest — and a few weeks in a specially-designed walking boot — will be required, according to the report. He was averaging a career-best 16.3 points and 5.4 assists prior to the injury.

“The timing of the injury is horrible because I was playing the best basketball of my career, taking advantage of every minute,” Barea told a reporter from El Nuevo Dia, Puerto Rico’s largest newspaper. “It’s a matter of resting and trying to return as quickly as possible.”

Usual starting point guard Deron Williams has been dealing with a calf injury and Devin Harris is sidelined indefinitely with a toe injury, leaving the Mavs thin at the position. Seth Curry will likely pick up most of Barea’s minutes and the club added Jonathan Gibson on Thursday to improve its depth at that spot.

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