The Dallas Mavericks received some bad news ahead of Game 1 of their highly-anticipated clash against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. As it turns out, the Mavs are unlikely to have veteran sharpshooter JJ Redick for the entirety of the series.

It was Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle himself who revealed that Redick is still dealing with a lingering heel issue (h/t Tim MacMahon of ESPN):

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Redick arrived in Dallas at the trade deadline after a tumultuous half-season with the New Orleans Pelicans. The 36-year-old has not been able to find his footing with his new team, and the heel injury could be a major reason behind the same.

In 13 games played for the Mavs this season, Redick has averaged just 4.4 points and 1.2 triples in 11.3 minutes off the bench. He isn't exactly the most important player on the squad, but he's a tested veteran. He has had his fair share of playoff battles through the years, and he could have emerged as a spark for the second unit against a team like the Clippers.

To be clear though, coach Carlisle hasn't ruled Redick out completely. The 6-foot-3 combo guard still has a chance to play in the series, especially if it extends to six or seven games. Nevertheless, he likely won't be one hundred percent, so this puts the Mavs at a disadvantage. The Clippers are one of the favorites to go all the way this season so at this point, Luka Doncic could sure use all the help he can get.