Curious about Kyrie Irving’s injury during the Mavericks’ game against the Kings? The All-Star guard suffered a left knee sprain in the first quarter, leaving the court in visible pain after an awkward landing. His decision to shoot free throws before exiting drew comparisons to a legendary moment in NBA history.
Let’s go over the details of Kyrie Irving’s injury, what led to it, and how it impacts the already-shorthanded Mavericks.
How did Kyrie Irving get injured?
Kyrie Irving suffered a left knee sprain during the Dallas Mavericks’ 122-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. The injury occurred late in the first quarter when Irving was fouled by DeMar DeRozan while driving to the basket. As he landed, his right foot stepped on Jonas Valanciunas’ foot, causing him to lose balance and land awkwardly on his left leg. His knee appeared to hyperextend before he fell to the floor.
Irving remained on the court for several minutes, holding his leg in pain. Injured forward Anthony Davis was among those who helped him toward the locker room. Before exiting, Irving returned to the court and made two free throws, bringing Dallas within 23-18. He was then assisted off the floor and ruled out for the rest of the game. “Just unlucky,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “I hope that he’s healthy, that it’s not serious” (via NBA).
Kidd stated that Irving chose to take the free throws before leaving. “That’s just who, I mean, Kai’s a tough guy,” Kidd said. “I asked him as they were taking him off the court, ‘Are you good if you leave without shooting? You’re ruled out.’ So they took him to the free-throw line, and he shot the free throws and then we got him out.” Irving’s decision was compared to Kobe Bryant’s 2013 free throws after tearing his Achilles.
The Mavericks did not provide postgame updates on Irving’s condition. The team was already without Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington Jr. Dallas also lost Jaden Hardy to a right ankle sprain in the third quarter. “It seems every time we get close to getting somebody back, someone goes down,” Kidd said. “Tonight, both Hardy and Kai go down. So, we’re running out of bodies here.”
