3 Studs, 2 duds in Mavericks' road loss against Clippers

2. Dud - Luka Doncic's thumb

A significant setback for the Mavericks on the night was the potential injury to their cornerstone player, Luka Doncic. Reports suggest a possible fractured thumb, casting a shadow over his performance and amplifying the challenges faced by the team. Luka, whose dynamic playmaking and scoring are integral to the Mavericks' success, faced limitations with this injury.

The impact of Luka's potentially fractured thumb extended beyond the immediate game. It limited his on-court effectiveness and posed concerns about his availability in upcoming matchups. A dud in the truest sense for the Mavericks that night, the injury to Luka underscored the vulnerability of a team heavily reliant on his skill set.

The good news is, that Doncic finished the game playing 38 minutes and somehow scoring 30 points. Unfortunately, we're still unaware of the severity of this injury, but no injury makes fans feel good.

If Doncic is out, the Mavericks will look to Irving and others to step up on the offensive side of the ball and could test the trade market in search of additional depth.

As the Mavericks await further updates on Luka's condition, the implications of this loom big. The team is currently in good standing in the Western Conference, but the absence of Luka Doncic could drastically shake up the urgency for wins.