Kyrie Irving suffered a left knee sprain Monday night and shot free throws for the Mavericks -- with tears rolling down his cheeks -- before leaving the floor in obvious pain late in the first quarter of Dallas' 122-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Irving was fouled by DeMar DeRozan on a drive to the basket and his right foot landed on the foot of the Kings' Jonas Valanciunas. He lost his balance and then landed awkwardly on his left leg,

Irving’s injury put the Mavericks’ backcourt depth in flux, but the loss of Hardy limits Dallas’ point guard room to Dante Exum, Spencer Dinwiddie and two-way guard Brandon Williams — who dropped a season-high 34 points to lead the Texas Legends to a win over the Long Island Nets on Sunday.