The Mavs fans finally spot a shimmering ray of hope. In the last few weeks, the Texas side has plummeted from the peak. Since the Christmas Day loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team has managed to win three games in their 11 outings. One of the main reasons for the downfall was the team’s star guard, Luka Doncic’s 11-game absence with a nagging calf injury, which he suffered during the Christmas game. And nearly when the team looked like it had gone beyond repair, there’s a positive update.

Tonight, the team faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, who reached the American Airlines Arena fresh off their win against the mighty Cavaliers. Facing the West No.1 seed with a three-game losing streak, it looked like the team was in for another disastrous game. However, during the halftime, fans witnessed something magical.

First of all, the shorthanded Mavericks surprised the NBA world, finishing the first half against the Thunder with a 20-point lead. And adding on it, fans at the arena got to witness Luka Doncic shooting around during the halftime break.

A few days ago, a video clip revealed how the Slovenian star was struggling to even rest his left foot on the floor and used a support vehicle to commute inside the arena. Tonight, it wasn’t just the fans in the arena who witnessed the magic. Grant Afseth, the renowned NBA reporter, captured the wholesome event and shared it on his X handle.

Even though the star is far from returning to the court, it’s indeed uplifting news. Two days ago, TNT’s Jared Greenberg revealed the timeline of the star guard’s return. The report stated that Luka was expected to return before the All-Star break, which is scheduled on February 14. So, the team has to manage to float in playoff contention before the star returns.

Double whammy: Luka Doncic & Co. pull off the unthinkable

Without a doubt, OKC Thunder came into the game with tired legs defeating the Cavs in a dominating fashion. Moreover, the team’s centerpiece Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t lace up tonight, missing his first game of the season with a sprained wrist. Nevertheless, they are still the lethal team on the floor, facing the shorthanded Mavs.

However, the Texas side went on to dominate the Thunder and produced a 98-106 win. Notably, it wasn’t a walk in the park. Following a 20-point lead in the first half, the OKC staged a 33-14 comeback run in the third quarter to cut the lead to 1-point. However, with the help of Naji Marshall, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Kyrie Irving, the team held its nerve and produced a rare win.

So, Kai’sreturn after a 5-game injury break has made the difference and it will help the team stay afloat until Luka Doncic returns to the floor. Moreover, the team also has another positive update. Two games ago, Dereck Lively II sprained his ankle early in the game against the Nuggets and didn’t return to the floor yet. The star was also seen walking along with Luka during the halftime break without the help of a crutch. So, there’s a bright future ahead for the Mavs.