More trouble for the Mavs! Following last year’s dominant run, they have dropped off massively this season and currently rank seventh in the West standings. Moreover, they have lost their last five games. A major reason for it has been the absence of Luka Doncic, who is out with a calf strain. Adding to the concerns, Kyrie Irving will now join the Slovenian Sensation on the sidelines due to an unfortunate injury of his own.

As per veteran insider, Shams Charania, Uncle Drew is expected to miss at least one to two weeks of action. The reason? A bulging disc in his back. Well, Kyrie had already been out for the last two games, but the cause was deemed an illness. However, the latest injury update means he could be out for an extended period.

Sure enough, that is a massive blow to the team because Kyrie is the one who has kept them afloat amid Luka’s unavailability, averaging 24.3 points and nearly five assists. And losing him right before the start of their toughest stretch could cost them. Yes, the upcoming weeks are going to be difficult for the Mavs as they face some top-seeded teams, including the Thunder and Lakers.

Additionally, doing it without their two best players could drop them in the standings. When asked about the timeline for Kyrie’s return, Jason Kidd said, “Give me 48 hours to get that answer.” Meanwhile, Luka is surely out for at least three more weeks as he is scheduled to be reevaluated one month after his Christmas Day injury. Moreover, a recent viral video has left everyone concerned about his health.

Luka Doncic’s viral on-court video raises concerns as Jason Kidd urges his team to step up

Although Luka will be reevaluated soon, he made his presence known on the sidelines during the recent Cavaliers clash. Unfortunately, his appearance left the Mavs fanbase worried because he was seen limping to a support scooter in visible pain. Although using a scooter during injury is normal for players, it is scary to see Doncic struggling to walk more than ten days after he injured his calf. That has left many wondering if the situation is worse than expected. Well, we will only find out once he is reevaluated.

Until then, Jason Kidd has urged the available squad members to step up and make up for Luka and Kyrie’s absence, “It’s important for everyone in uniform… Being short-handed, it’s the next-man-up mentality… We can’t replace Luka or Ky, so it’s going to take a team effort.” Amid Kyrie’s absence, Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes, and Jaden Hardy are expected to get a significant increase in minutes.

How the Mavs respond in the coming weeks without their two superstars could decide their fate for this season. Do you think they can step up to the challenge?