Kristaps Porzingis exits Mavericks game with left ankle sprain
Kristaps Porzingis exited Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers with a left ankle sprain, and the Dallas Mavericks can only hope that's the extent of the time missed.
The big man rolled his ankle hard after jumping for a rebound alongside Andre Drummond, immediately falling to the floor:
KP rolls his ankle pic.twitter.com/7h9w3KfNrU
— Isaac Harris (@IsaacLHarris) April 23, 2021
Porzingis was able to walk to the locker room under his own power, but the Mavericks later announced he would not return to the game. He finished with 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting with six rebounds.
Despite losing their second-leading scorer, the Mavericks pulled out a 115-110 win over the Lakers thanks to a 30-point, 9-rebound, 8-assist performance from Luka Doncic.
There was some measure of good news after the game, as Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle reported that Porzingis was still walking and could even play in the team's game Saturday against the Lakers.
Rick Carlisle said Kristaps Porzingis rolled his left ankle and has not been ruled out for Saturday, but unsure about the severity. KP is walking. Not in a boot at this point.
— Eddie Sefko (@ESefko) April 23, 2021
With the team now tied with the Portland Trail Blazers for the key sixth position in the Western Conference — seventh place plays in the play-in tournament — the Mavericks will want all the help they can get.
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