Kyrie Irving leaves Kings game with injured knee

The season from hell continues for Dallas

Kyrie Irving left Monday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings with a knee injury. The Mavericks confirmed before halftime Irving would not return with what is initially being described as a knee sprain.

Irving suffered the nasty looking injury late in the first quarter, driving down the lane before getting fouled while planting his left leg and it bending the wrong direction. Irving seriously hyperextended his knee, and he crumpled to the floor in pain immediately after.

Once he was helped to his feet by trainers and teammates, Irving valiantly stayed in the game to shoot his two free throws, on the slim chance he could possibly return to the game. Irving made both, and then was helped to the locker room before being ruled out for the rest of the game shortly after.

The Mavericks injury woes just keep piling on. The team is already without Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, and PJ Washington. Irving now means Dallas will be without five of their best six players for a likely extended period. Even if Irving gets good news with his injury and no surgery is required, he’s likely out minimum a few weeks. Davis, Gafford, and Lively won’t be reevaluated until Thursday and Washington is dealing with a nagging ankle sprain.

Dallas will keep fighting because that’s all the team knows how to do. They have a decent lead on the 11th place Phoenix Suns for a spot in the play-in, but it’s a remarkable fall from less than 12 months ago when the Mavericks were three wins away from winning the NBA championship. Now Luka Doncic has been traded, and what’s left of the team is hurt and in street clothes.

It’s been a miserable season for Mavericks fans, and we don’t blame you if you decided to tune out for a bit. But we’ll be here covering the team the best we can. What more can you say? Sheesh.