Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving recently made headlines after leaving the court early during the team’s recent game against the Kings. The Mavericks were already dealing with a tough 98-122 loss, which was a disappointing moment for the team. To make matters worse, Irving’s injury added to the frustration of the night.
The injury happened late in the first quarter when Irving was fouled by DeMar DeRozan while going to the basket. When he landed, his left leg bent awkwardly, and his knee seemed to stretch too far. He couldn’t put any weight on his left leg because of this, which made him fall in pain.
At first, it seemed like he would leave the game, but surprisingly, he stayed on the court, earning praise from the media. Irving held his leg and stayed on the floor for a few minutes. Then, Anthony Davis helped him to the locker room.
A moment of pure determination for Kyrie Irving.
— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2025
After suffering an injury, Kyrie was helped to the line to take his free throws before exiting the game.
He made both. 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/hJDDRTDLg7
Before leaving, Irving made two free throws despite the pain. After hitting them, bringing the score to 23-18, he was helped off the court, and the Mavericks quickly said he wouldn’t return for the rest of the game.
Expected duration of Kyrie Irving’s time off
The crowd at the American Airlines Center went wild with MVP chants as Kyrie Irving was determined to finish his free throws despite being in massive pain. It was one of the best moments of the night. But now, it looks like the MVP will need some time to recover from a painful injury.
The team hasn’t shared full details about the injury yet, but more tests will be done soon. According to Deepak Chona, Irving’s left quad “jumps” before hitting the ground, which could mean a serious injury like an ACL, LCL, or meniscus tear, possibly ending his season. If it’s just a hyperextension, it might take 4 to 8 weeks to heal.
Kyrie Irving injury:
— Deepak Chona, MD. SportsMedAnalytics (@SportMDAnalysis) March 4, 2025
(1) His left quad “jumps” before it hits the ground. Seen in tendon ruptures
(2) Knee lands in hyperextension, putting ACL/LCL/meniscus at risk
Hopefully wrong but not expecting great news pic.twitter.com/no25YIg1jG
For now, the 32-year-old guard is listed as questionable for the next game against the Bucks on March 5. The Mavericks, grappling with a series of injuries such as those to Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II, are facing significant challenges in the Western Conference standings.
