The Dallas Mavericks faced the Los Angeles Clippers for the second night in a row on Saturday, but this time they were without Jaden Hardy. Hardy suffered another ankle injury during Friday’s game—the first of the back-to-back matchups—and had to be helped off the court. The timing made it even more frustrating, as the injury happened late in a game that was already a blowout.
Mavs guard Jaden Hardy had to be helped off the floor after suffering an apparent leg injury.
Hope he’s okay.The Mavericks have had a tough season with injuries, and Hardy might be the latest addition to a growing list of sidelined players, including Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. With only three regular-season games left before the April 13 finale, it seems unlikely Hardy will return in time. Even if he does, his repeated leg issues are concerning. This marks his fourth right leg injury since December—he was hurt in December, January, March, and now April, with only February giving him a break.
Hardy’s absence is a blow to the Mavericks, as he contributes 8.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. With the team fighting to secure the 9th seed, losing even one contributor hurts. Beyond the stats, Hardy has also stepped up as a temporary point guard at times due to injuries in the Mavs’ backcourt. While he’s naturally more of a shooting guard, his ability to fill in has been valuable. Without him, the team’s already thin guard rotation loses even more flexibility.
As they push toward the Play-In Tournament, the Mavericks will need to get creative—especially with so many key players injured—as they quite literally limp toward the end of the season.
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