The Western Conference playoff race is heating up, and Monday night’s game is a game-changer. The Kings and Mavericks are neck and neck, both trailing the No. 6 seed by the same margin are battling it out right now. But here’s the catch—Sacramento holds the edge. They’ve already taken down Dallas twice, giving them the season series tiebreaker for now. And what’s worse? Kyrie Irving could be out of the match.

Late in the first quarter, with 2:35 on the clock, Irving drove into the lane, aiming for a floater. But the play went south fast. As he went up, his knee crashed into a defender’s, sending him straight to the floor. To make matters worse, his other knee seemed to hyperextend on the way down while drawing the foul.

You could tell something was wrong, but he still powered through and sank his free throws. After that, though, he couldn’t walk off on his own and had to be helped off the court reports Tim MacMahon, leaving fans holding their breath. Irving won’t be returning to the game after suffering a left knee sprain. The team has officially ruled him out. If that wasn’t enough, the latest update by Chris Haynes announced that Irving will be missing the rest of the season (!!) because of his torn ACL.

The 9x All-Star’s night ends early, wrapping up with 7 points and one assist in just 9 minutes of action. The 32-year-old guard through 49 games has averaged 25.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per contest while playing 36.6 minutes per game.

Irving’s efficiency has been a major asset for Dallas. He’s shooting 47.3% from the field, including an impressive 40.1% from beyond the arc on 7.3 attempts per game. He’s also a force at the free-throw line, knocking down 91.5% of his attempts, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most reliable scorers.

Irving joins the growing list of injured players for the Mavs. This stretch of bad luck started even before the trade deadline, and it hasn’t let up since. First, Dereck Lively went down. Then, Anthony Davis barely got settled in Dallas before suffering an injury in his debut. Not long after, Daniel Gafford got hurt too. And now, Irving’s setback only adds to the frustration.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel, though. Davis is set to be reevaluated on March 6, while both Lively and Gafford are working their way back. But the loss of Irving is going to sting because he was having a great season.

Kyrie Irving had risen like a phoenix

Irving emerged as a key leader for the Mavericks last season. Although the Luka Doncic trade continued to be a hot topic, Irving quietly became the anchor the team needed. With Doncic gone and AD’s availability always in doubt, Irving shouldered the scoring load. In four of his last five games, he dropped over 30 points while averaging more than 22 shots per game, offering much-needed consistency and stability.

Fans found solace in his performance during a season full of challenges. His steady play provided a rare moment of clarity amid the turmoil. But then, just when the team appeared to be finding its rhythm, Irving suffered a knee injury that forced him off the court.

This setback left Mavericks supporters and analysts wondering how the team would cope without their newfound leader. With Irving sidelined, the Mavericks faced a major challenge: keeping the momentum going and finding a way to replace his offensive leadership.

In conclusion, Irving’s injury not only halted a promising run but also cast a shadow over the rest of the season. The Mavericks now had to navigate uncertain waters without the steady hand that had kept them afloat, leaving many to question what the future held for the team.