In a nail-biting clash against the Los Angeles Clippers, Luka Doncic faced a thumb injury early on, smacking his thumb against a defender’s knee during a drive. Despite briefly heading to the locker room, he returned to battle through the rest of the game.

Describing the moment, Doncic grimaced, acknowledging the impact, saying, “I hit his knee, but yeah, I saw the picture. It’s not good to see.”

Though initially believing it wasn’t broken, Doncic underwent halftime X-rays that hinted at a possible break. However, he reassured, “I don’t think it’s broken. The X-rays initially suggested it was, but we’ll need further examination back in Dallas.”

Remarkably, despite the discomfort, Doncic powered through, tallying an impressive 30 points, along with contributions across the board in steals, assists, and blocks in his 38 minutes on the court. He attributed the Clippers’ physicality to the struggles the Mavericks faced offensively.

Highlighting the Clippers’ tenacity, Doncic admitted, “They were very physical, and that gave them the push. I think they play really great defense, so that’s what holds us back a little bit.”

Despite a late-game surge cutting a massive deficit, courtesy of Kyrie Irving’s 26 points, the Mavs’ offense faltered, leading to a 107-88 loss.

As the Mavericks close their two-game road trip in Los Angeles, attention turns to Doncic’s recovery. The team is set to return home for a three-game series, starting with a showdown against the Houston Rockets. Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com for ongoing updates on Doncic’s injury and comprehensive coverage of the Mavericks’ journey this season.