Why Kyrie Irving’s foot injury is the biggest concern for the Mavericks right now

The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 112-108 on Monday night. Dropping a game on the road against the team with the second-best record in the Western Conference without Luka Doncic was not bad, but the Mavs blew a 16-point lead and scored just 12 points in the fourth quarter to turn it into a crushing defeat.

Kyrie Irving had 20 points in the first half on eight of 13 shooting from the field, and he was well on his way to another superstar performance when Dillon Brooks stepped on his ankle fighting through a screen. Irving went down but stayed in the game. He did score six points after the injury, but the league’s leading scorer in the final period missed all eight of his four-quarter shots as the Mavericks' offense ground to a halt.

Kyrie was wearing a walking boot at his postgame press conference where he talked about the injury. The eight-time All-Star is hopeful to play in the team’s next game, but here is a look at why his foot should be the biggest concern for the Mavericks right now.

Why Kyrie Irving’s foot injury is the biggest concern for the Dallas Mavericks right now

Irving talked about the injury postgame where he made it clear that there was zero intent from Brooks, and that it was the foot or big toe that he re-aggravated more than the ankle. Hear what Kyrie had to say below courtesy of Grant Afseth.

Irving suffered the foot injury in the Mavs’ March 8 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. It forced him to miss three games, but he returned against the Lakers and was masterful. He had 38 points as he led the Mavericks to a much-needed road win.

Kyrie looked well on his way to doing that again in Memphis. He had 28 points in the first three quarters on ten of six shooting before going scoreless on zero of eight from the field in the fourth. The injury likely played a role, and it is unlikely to be better in two days.

The Dallas Mavericks play their biggest game of the year on Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center as the defending champion Golden State Warriors visit Dallas. Coming into the game, the Dubs have a 0.5-game advantage in the standings, but the contest is effectively worth two games because the winner secures the season series and the tiebreaker. The Mavs need that win to avoid the Play-In Tournament, and they may have to do it without Kyrie.

Irving made it clear that he plans to do everything he can to play on March 22, but it is unlikely. He just missed three games with this injury and now he made it worse. The Mavericks do not want it to linger into the postseason, so the wisest move is likely to give it some time to rest now.

Luka Doncic has missed five straight games with a thigh injury that he tried to play through and re-aggravated. He is hopeful to return on Wednesday night against the defending champions. Even if he needs to miss that game, the 24-year-old superstar will be fully healthy before the weekend.

If Kyrie Irving plays and makes the injury worse, they could be without him in the playoffs. That would spell doom for Dallas. They have struggled mightily on the defensive end since the trade, and the Mavericks are not going to be a defensive juggernaut. They will have to outscore teams to win, and that will be incredibly more difficult without Kyrie.

All fans can do is wait for updates as they become available. Hopefully, Kyrie Irving can rest up and be ready to face the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, but the Dallas Mavericks need him in the playoffs. Stay tuned for all the latest.