Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving Sustains Left Knee Sprain Against Kings

The star guard had to be helped off the court during a home-game loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks lies on the court after suffering an injury in the first half against the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on March 3, 2025. Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Things continue to go south for the defending Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks.

Star guard Kyrie Irving suffered a left knee sprain on Monday and had to be helped off the court during a 122–98 loss to the Sacramento Kings (32–28) at home. Irving’s injury came on a layup as his left knee bent awkwardly.

While Irving needed help off the court, he shot his free throws before he went to the locker room. Irving had seven points before he left the game.

“Just unlucky, you know, hope that he’s healthy and it’s not serious,” Jason Kidd, head coach for the Dallas Mavericks, told reporters afterward. “The injuries that we’ve had this season, guys are trying to hold it together.”

It turned into multiple injuries on Monday as backup guard Jaden Hardy sustained a right ankle sprain. Hardy finished with eight points and two rebounds.

Overall, the Mavericks (32–30) have sustained a slew of injuries, which notably includes recently-acquired star forward Anthony Davis due to an adductor strain. Centers Dereck Lively III (right ankle stress fracture) and Daniel Gafford (MCL sprain) have also sustained injuries and forwards Caleb Martin (hip), and P.J. Washington (ankle) missed Monday’s game due to injuries.

“You get other bodies back and it just seems that every time we’re close to getting someone back, someone goes down,” Kidd said. “And tonight both Hardy and Kyrie go down and so we’re running out of bodies here, but guys keep fighting.”

Dallas couldn’t keep up with the Kings in the second half after just trailing 27–24 after the first quarter. Sacramento built a 60–50 halftime lead and pulled away in the third quarter with a 34–16 effort.

“I think everybody seeing Ky in the locker room probably took ... some wind out of their sails—their leader laying there,” Kidd said. “But I thought the guys responded in the fourth quarter.”

Kings guard Zach LaVine led the way with 22 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Forward DeMar DeRozan stepped up with 20 points, two rebounds, and four assists. Fellow forward Keegan Murray added to the onslaught with 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Dallas didn’t have any starters in double figures, but forward Kai Jones provided a big spark off the bench with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Forward Naji Marshall added 18 points, five rebounds, and six assists off the bench.

The Mavericks will need continued efforts from both Jones and Marshall down the stretch amid all of the injuries. Dallas has the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, which gives the team a shot at the playoffs through the play-in tournament. However, the Mavericks have lost four of the past five games.

It will get more difficult if Irving misses weeks or the rest of the season though. Irving averages 25 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He played a pivotal role in the Mavericks reaching the NBA Finals last year, his first full season with the team.

Irving joined the Mavericks in February 2023 via a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. While the Mavericks went 38–44 that season, he and former star forward Luka Doncic turned things around last season with a 50–32 record.

Dallas traded Doncic this season to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis, which drew the ire of Mavericks fans. Doncic had a solid season going with the Mavericks amid 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists before the trade.

Last season, Doncic posted 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists, which complimented Irving’s strong season of 25.6 points, five rebounds, and 5.2 assists. Davis could arguably produce similar results to Doncic amid his 25.7 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this season, but the Mavericks are resigned to life without both superstars on the court for the foreseeable future.

Dallas visits the Milwaukee Bucks (34–25) on Wednesday.