The Dallas Mavericks lost not just the game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night – they also lost one of their best players to injury. Tim Hardaway Jr. had to be carried off the playing court after suffering a foot injury.

The Mavs announced the news shortly after the game.

Tim Hardaway Jr. suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal on his left foot in tonight’s game at Golden State. Updates will be given when available.

The injury occurred during a routine drive to the basket as Hardaway Jr. made a move against the Warriors' Damion Lee. The Mavs guard came up hobbling afterwards and had to be assisted off the playing court.

https://twitter.com/breakingtrendsn/status/1486183986867093504

Mavs stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis both bared their thoughts after the game, choosing to forget the impact the injury will have on the team and rather focus on Tim Hardaway Jr. as a teammate and friend.

Via Callie Caplan:

“That's just bad luck, every injury is bad luck,” said Luka Doncic on his Mavs teammate. “It's sad so we just try to cheer him up.”

Kristaps Porzingis on close friend Tim Hardaway Jr.: “He was down at first…But I talked to him now, and he seemed to be in better spirits already.” Said THJ was already quizzing Theo Pinson, who’s had a similar foot injury, about rehab and getting back.

Mavs backup Theo Pinson had also suffered the same injury in the past, not once but twice. Perhaps speaking to him gave Tim Hardaway Jr. confidence to be able to return this season.

Pinson dealt with the injury twice during his time with the North Carolina Tar Heels. He had his first experience with the foot injury as a freshman in January of 2015 and was able to return less than two months later.

The second time lasted a bit longer, hurting his foot in October of 2016 and returning sometime in January, around three months later.

Hopefully Tim Hardaway Jr.'s recovery can skew towards the former there than the latter as the Mavs battle for playoff positioning in a crowded Western Conference.