The Mavericks are ten games below .500 and out of the playoff picture less than two years after playing in the NBA Finals. Anthony Davis has ligament damage in his left hand, and the frequently injured Mavericks forward could face an extended absence, a person with knowledge of the injury said. Davis was injured at the end of a 116-114 loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Davis was out for the next 18 games. He was nursing an abdominal injury when the Mavericks traded him last February, and aggravated it again in his debut with Dallas. The 10-time All-Star was visibly in pain on the bench before going to the locker room. The hand injury could keep him out until after the February 5 trade deadline.
