MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 22: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the first … [+] quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game One of the Western Conference Finals at Target Center on May 22, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
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The injury-ridden Dallas Mavericks suffered yet another big loss on Monday night when All-Star guard Kyrie Irving had to be helped off the court with a knee injury.
Irving appeared to hyper-extend his left knee on a drive to the basket during the first quarter. He was fouled on the play and needed his teammates to help him to the foul line, where he proceeded to make both foul shots. He was then helped of the court by his teammates and did not return in a game won by the Sacramento Kings, 122-98. Irving finished with 7 points.
“It’s unlucky, hope that he’s healthy and it’s not serious,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told reporters. “But the injuries that we’ve had this season, guys are trying to hold it together, get other bodies back and it just seems every time we get close to getting somebody back, someone goes down. And tonight both [Jaden] Hardy and Ky go down, so we’re running out of bodies here. But guys keep fighting.”
The Mavericks, who traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers in one of the biggest trades in NBA history, are already without Hardy (right ankle sprain), P.J. Washington Jr. (right ankle sprain), Daniel Gafford (right knee sprain), Anthony Davis (left adductor strain), Caleb Martin (right hip strain) and Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture).
Dallas (32-30) now sits in 10th place in the Western Conference standings and is in jeopardy of missing the postseason. They remain 1 1/2 games back of the 6th-place Golden State Warriors, but 3 1/2 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns for the final Play-In spot. Teams 7-10 will compete in the Play-In Tournament.
