Caleb Martin's Thumb Sprain Keeps Him Sidelined for Saturday

The Dallas Mavericks are going to have to survive another night without Caleb Martin, who is officially out for Saturday with a right thumb sprain.

Underdog NBA confirmed the downgrade, meaning anyone holding out hope for a weekend debut can officially pivot their daily fantasy lineups.

"Underdog NBA reported Caleb Martin (thumb) is listed out Saturday."

Martin already missed Wednesday's season opener against the Houston Rockets with the same issue. He is on the roster to do exactly what he did last year, when he averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and a steal per game while playing the kind of annoying defense that makes opposing wings miserable.

A thumb sprain sounds like an injury you get from aggressively scrolling through a streaming menu, but for a guy whose entire paycheck relies on gripping a basketball and fighting through screens, it is a legitimate problem.

For the betting crowd, this means the Mavericks' rotation stays condensed. Dallas has enough frontcourt depth to patch the hole for now, so do not expect massive game-line movement, but the peripheral prop markets for their backup wings will definitely see a bump in volume.

The Mavericks can afford to be patient in October. Martin will stay in street clothes until he can actually shoot without wincing, leaving Dallas to lean on the rest of their bench to get through the weekend.