Utah Jazz's Taylor Hendricks fell from the ground after breaking his leg

DALLAS (AP) — Utah forward Taylor Hendricks was rolled off the floor on a stretcher with a right leg injury after landing awkwardly midway through the third quarter Jazz's 110-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday evening.

The team said Hendricks broke his right fibula and dislocated his ankle.

“He's a great kid, and so we're really just trying to focus on him – keeping his health, his spirits up as he starts the road to recovery,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “But those are the moments in sports that suck.”

Hendricks went down near the baseline under the Jazz basket without any contact and landed with his foot in an awkward direction.

Hendricks recorded two points, three rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes in his second season, making his third consecutive start after starting 23 of his 40 appearances as a rookie.

“Super unfortunate,” said Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, struggling to find words. “We are all here for him. It's a shame we lost, but he's more important. We know how hard he's worked all summer to be ready for this opportunity, so it definitely feels difficult for him. We stay there for him and support him.

“We talk about fighting adversity, whatever it may be. Tonight it was like that. No one can do it alone, so it’s about sticking together and trying to get through it and not giving up.”

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