Ellis misses first game of Mavericks career with leg injury

Monta Ellis’ streak of playing in 237 consecutive games ended when he missed Sunday night’s contest against the Indiana Pacers.

Ellis injured his lower right leg during the second half of Friday’s 94-76 loss to the San Antonio Spurs when the veteran shooting guard was accidentally kicked by Manu Ginobili.

Coach Rick Carlisle doesn’t have a timetable for Ellis’ return.

“He’s off crutches, but he’s still very sore,” Carlisle said. “And again, it’s not considered serious, but it something that’s a great concern for us. As far as our next game, that’s a conversation for later.”

Sunday was the first time Ellis missed a game while in a Mavs uniform since he signed a three-year contract with Dallas on July 23, 2013. The period of consecutive games played for Ellis with the Mavs ended Sunday at 155.

Ellis is known as an iron man who has played through various injuries.

Owner Mark Cuban said the injury could have a silver lining.

“In some respects you hate to see it, but I’m glad he’s going to get a little rest, so it’ll be good for him,” Cuban said. “He’s still hobbling some, so hopefully he’ll be back at it by the next game.

“Hopefully he’ll be a little bit more rested and the rest will give the rest of his body a little chance to heal. So hopefully all’s well that ends well and it won’t impact him very long.”

Ellis leads the Mavs in scoring at 19.1 points per game, and Carlisle is counting on every player to contribute more.

“We just got to have a lot of guys step up, and it has to be a strength in numbers thing,” Carlisle said. “Everybody’s got to chip in a couple of extra points to make up for 20 a game.

“It’s not easy to lose a guy that’s that good a player and that good a scorer, and a guy that can create, and create his own shot.”

In addition to Ellis, guard J.J. Barea missed his fourth straight game Sunday with a sprained left ankle. Barea said he’s still experiencing some soreness in the ankle.

Carlisle said his desire is to have both Ellis and Barea healthy before the playoffs start on April 18.

“And when they’re healthy we’ll have them back playing down the stretch of the regular season,” Carlisle said. “But they’ve got to be healthy, and neither one of these guys is ready to go.”

Cuban, NBA talk

Cuban talked to an NBA official concerning the scathing tweet and comments he made following Friday’s loss to San Antonio when he complained about the lack of fouls going in favor of Ellis.

“I talked to them, but they haven’t fined me,” Cuban said. “I’m guessing they will, and I’m fine with that.

“But it doesn’t change the facts of the scenario, and that’s what’s more important. Sometimes you’ve got to make a point literally with these things and the NBA, and actually they recognize that.”

This story was originally published March 29, 2015 at 9:28 PM with the headline "Ellis misses first game of Mavericks career with leg injury."