It’s Fat Tuesday and the only thing the Mavericks have overindulged in is injuries.
Maybe they can give that up for Lent.
The fact-gathering process about Kyrie Irving’s left knee injury is complete and an MRI revealed that the superstar guard suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament when he took a misstep late in the first quarter Monday night against Sacramento.
He will miss the rest of this season.
In the news release, the Mavericks said that the original diagnosis of a left knee sprain was changed after the MRI. Irving is listed is out with “appropriate medical updates to follow as necessary.”
The nine-time All-Star could not put any weight on his left leg after the injury. That he stayed in the game to shoot his two free throws (making them, too) was a testament to his toughness.
He then was helped to the locker room.
It’s a devastating blow to a team trying to hold themselves together with duct tape, baling wire and Irving’s greatness while Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford tend to their own injuries.
“There aren’t words to fully describe who Kyrie Irving is to this team or what he means to us as an organization,” general manager Nico Harrison said in a statement. “Kyrie is the heart and soul of this team and he has embraced the city of Dallas as his home and our fans as an extension of his own family.
“I’ve been fortunate to have witnessed his journey, his continued evolution and growth over the years. And I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to see him approach the game of basketball with the same energy and fierce passion that he did as a young man. His work ethic and absolute dedication to his craft is cut from the same cloth of greats. All my thoughts and that of our staff are with Kyrie and his family. And we are confident that he will come back from this stronger than ever just like he always has.”
Harrison went on to say he sees the same ferocity and passion in Irving as he did from Kobe Bryant during his playing days and before his death. Harrison, Bryant and Irving all were close friends.
Irving had been playing 39.1 minutes per game since Feb. 1 before going down late in the first quarter on Monday in the Mavericks’ loss to Sacramento. He had averaged 28.1 points in that time. For the season, he had shot 40.1 percent from three-point land and 91.6 percent from the foul line.
So the Mavericks now have to regroup. One look at the standings will tell you that they have plenty to play for and that this season has an excellent chance of extending beyond Game No. 82, even without Irving.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Max Christie and Dante Exum will get chances to be star-level players heading forward.
But the best thing that can happen to the Mavericks is if they get some of their big guys and Caleb Martin healthy.
They woke up Tuesday with a 32-30 record and in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. They have a three game lead in the loss column on No. 11 Phoenix.
And the rest of their schedule – 20 games, 10 against teams with losing records who perhaps are diving for lottery positioning rather than playoff seedings – is not as daunting as it may look with 12 road games.
Assuming Gafford and/or Davis return, and that timeline is the big uncertainty, the Mavericks should be able to hold onto a spot in the play-in tournament that sends two of the teams seeded seventh through 10th after 82 games into the eight-team playoff field in the West.
Meanwhile, the hearts of all Mavericks and their fans should go out to Irving. All he’s done this season is save the Mavericks from a total disaster.
His injury is a cruel blow, for sure.
Here’s our other takeaways from the 122-98 loss to Sacramento on Monday.
More tough news: Jaden Hardy, who has battled inconsistency but also has been known to pour in points at a rapid rate, suffered a sprained right ankle in the third quarter against the Kings and did not return. His status moving forward is unclear, but with Irving out, it’s likely Hardy would have been one of the players relied upon to pick up some of the scoring slack.
On the bright side: The Mavericks sent Caleb Martin to the Texas Legends on Tuesday for the express purpose of giving him a five-on-five scrimmage with the G League team. Assuming that goes well, Martin will rejoin the Mavericks on Wednesday and could be cleared to make his debut with the team later this week. Martin was acquired last month in a trade with Philadelphia that sent Quentin Grimes to the Sixers.
Rough night for starters: Though two of them, Irving and Dwight Powell, did not log 10 minutes of playing time, it still was an unusual night for the Mavericks’ starters. The starting five did not place one player in double figures. They combined for just 23 points, led by Irving’s seven. Contrast that with the Kings’ starters, who totaled 87 points, and it was just too much for the thin corps of Maverick reserves to overcome.
X: @ESefko
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