Kyrie Irving hobbled toward the tunnel, flanked by team staff, his night officially over. TheDallas Mavericks’ star guard suffered a left knee sprain in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, leaving an already battered team in even worse shape.
Irving went down awkwardly after being fouled on a drive to the basket, immediately grabbing his knee. For a moment, it looked bad-bad enough that even injured forward Anthony Davis came over to help him off the floor. But then, in a moment of grit, Irving turned back, stepped onto the court, and knocked down two free throws before heading straight to the locker room.
LeBron James trolls the Mavericks after Lakers’ dominant win
The Mavericks quickly ruled him out for the rest of the game, and now, the big question looms: How long will he be out?
The hits keep coming for Dallas
This was never how the Mavericks imagined their post-Luka Doncic era would start. When they sent their franchise superstar to the Lakers on Feb. 1, the return package-headlined by Anthony Davis-was supposed to keep them in contention. Instead, Davis has played just one game before a groin injury sidelined him.
On top of that, Dereck Lively II (ankle), Daniel Gafford (knee), and Caleb Martin (hip) are all out. Now, Irving-their top scorer-is in jeopardy, leaving Dallas with a skeleton crew.
With so many key players missing, Monday’s game felt inevitable. The Kings smelled blood in the water, pouncing on a depleted Mavericks squad. Even with Klay Thompson trying to keep them afloat, the offense sputtered, and Sacramento pulled away.
What happens next?
For now, all eyes are on Irving’s medical evaluation. If he’s out for an extended period, the Mavericks could be in serious trouble. They’re already struggling to find offensive rhythm, and with no clear return dates for Davis or their other injured players, the situation is only getting worse.
Fans in Dallas are frustrated. The team’s controversial decision to trade Doncic is still fresh, and with every injury, the skepticism grows. Was this the right move? Can the Mavericks salvage this season?
There are no easy answers right now-only uncertainty. What’s clear is that the Mavericks desperately need some good news. Unfortunately, lately, all they’ve been getting is the opposite.
