DALLAS (AP) — Kyrie Irving faced a tough moment during a game on Monday night. He suffered a left knee sprain and left the court in visible pain after a foul. Before leaving, tears streamed down his face as he took a couple of free throws for the Mavericks, who lost to the Sacramento Kings 122-98.
During the game, a drive to the basket led to a foul by DeMar DeRozan. Irving’s foot landed awkwardly on Jonas Valanciunas’ foot, causing him to lose balance and fall. This resulted in what appeared to be a hyperextension of his knee.
After the game, the Mavericks didn’t provide updates regarding the injury. Coach Jason Kidd expressed his concern, hoping it wasn’t serious. “Just unlucky,” he said, reflecting on the situation.
Despite the injury, Irving showed his toughness. He stayed on the floor for several minutes, even while injured forward Anthony Davis supported him as he walked to the locker room. After Kidd had a quick chat with him, Irving decided to shoot his free throws. He made both, narrowing the score to 23-18 before heading out for the rest of the game.
Irving’s determination to shoot free throws reminded fans of the late Kobe Bryant. Kobe famously sank two free throws after tearing his Achilles in a game back in 2013.
A nine-time All-Star, Irving has been a key player for the Mavericks, averaging 25.0 points per game. Since Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Irving has become the main offensive threat for Dallas.
The Mavericks were already short-handed, missing not only Davis but also Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington Jr. They further lost reserve guard Jaden Hardy to an ankle sprain during the third quarter, leaving them with just nine players for the game.
“It seems every time we get close to getting somebody back, someone goes down,” Kidd noted, clearly frustrated by the injuries to his team.
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Source linkJason Kidd, Kyrie Irving, Jonas Valanciunas, Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Jaden Hardy, DeMar DeRozan, Daniel Gafford, Basketball, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, TX State Wire, CA State Wire, NBA, PJ Washington, NBA basketball, Sports, Dallas, Athlete injuries, Dereck Lively II
