During Monday night's game against the Sacramento Kings, Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks suffered a left knee sprain. The incident occurred late in the first quarter when Irving was fouled on a drive to the basket. His right foot landed on the foot of Jonas Valanciunas from the Kings, causing him to lose his balance and awkwardly land on his left leg, which appeared to hyperextend before he fell to the floor.
Despite the obvious pain, Irving showed resilience by shooting free throws with tears rolling down his cheeks before leaving the game. Mavericks' coach Jason Kidd expressed concern for Irving's well-being, emphasizing the unfortunate nature of the injury and hoping it is not serious.
After being assisted off the court, Irving returned to take two free throws, reminiscent of Kobe Bryant's legendary moment when he made crucial foul shots after tearing his Achilles tendon in 2013. Irving's toughness and determination were evident as he continued to contribute to his team despite the injury.
Irving, a nine-time All-Star, has been a key player for the Mavericks, averaging 25.0 points per game and serving as their primary outside shooting threat. His absence due to the knee sprain adds to the challenges faced by Dallas, who were already missing key players like Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington Jr.
The Mavericks also lost guard Jaden Hardy to a right ankle sprain during the game, further depleting their roster. Coach Kidd acknowledged the team's struggles with injuries, noting the unfortunate timing of players going down just as others were nearing a return.
With Irving ruled out for the remainder of the game and additional injuries impacting the team, the Mavericks faced a tough night against the Kings. The team finished the game with only nine players available, highlighting the challenges they are currently navigating.
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