The Mavericks have been magical in surviving absences by a lot of their key players this season, even when Luka Donu010diu0107 or Kyrie Irving have been missing.
But when both are out?
That’s the steep challenge they faced Thursday and it turned out to be a test they could not pass.
The Mavericks pushed the Los Angeles Clippers hard for nearly three quarters, but the manpower shortage – and James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac – got the best of them as the Clips opened up a 16-point lead late in the third quarter and blew it open down the stretch for a 118-95 victory at American Airlines Center.