Kyrie Irving Suffers Knee Sprain in Mavericks’ Game Against Kings
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving suffered a left knee sprain Monday night in a game against the Sacramento Kings. The injury occurred late in the first quarter when DeMar DeRozan fouled Irving on a drive to the basket. As Irving landed, his right foot came down on Jonas Valančiūnas’ foot, causing him to lose balance. He then landed awkwardly on his left leg, which appeared to hyperextend before he collapsed to the floor.
Irving Leaves Game After Sinking Free Throws
Irving stayed on the court for several minutes in visible pain. Anthony Davis, who is also dealing with an injury, helped him toward the locker room. However, Irving briefly returned to take two free throws, making both to cut Sacramento’s lead to 23-18. Afterward, he was helped into the tunnel, and the Mavericks ruled him out for the rest of the game.
Mavericks Dealing with Major Injuries
The injury is a big blow to Dallas, which is already without several key players:
- Anthony Davis (groin injury) – played only one game for the Mavs since his trade.
- Daniel Gafford (knee injury)
- Dereck Lively II (ankle injury)
- P.J. Washington Jr. (ankle injury)
Irving’s Impact on the Mavericks
Before his injury, Irving was averaging 25.0 points per game and had become the team’s primary outside shooting threat after Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1. His absence leaves a major void for the struggling Mavericks, who are fighting to stay competitive in the Western Conference playoff race.
