DALLAS — Golden State Warriors swingman Moses Moody suffered a left knee injury in the final minute of Monday’s 137-131 overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
Moody, who was on the floor for the first time in three weeks after injuring his wrist on March 2, was dribbling toward the basket for a breakaway dunk when his knee buckled. He immediately went down in pain and called for help from the bench.
As soon as the injury occurred, a hush fell over the crowd inside American Airlines Center. It was as if everyone watching immediately knew the severity of the injury.
“Just saw his leg buckle” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “Saw him go down in a heap in pain. We don’t know what it is, but it sure looked bad.”
Kerr put his hands over his mouth as soon as the injury occurred. Warriors players on the floor immediately started to signal for help from the bench because they knew the severity of the injury. The game was stopped for several minutes as a stretcher came onto the floor to take Moody to the locker room. He received an ovation as he was wheeled back.
Kerr said Moody had x-rays taken on his knee immediately after the game. He flew home with the team and is scheduled for an MRI on Tuesday.
“I saw the looks on the Mavericks’ faces,” Kerr said. “Everybody on the floor was just horrified. Players care about players. They know how fragile this business is and how short their careers are, and how injuries can happen and can be catastrophic. We don’t know what it is yet. We’re just hoping for the best.”
Warriors star Stephen Curry and several teammates waited outside the exam room as Moody was evaluated, then walked into the room to offer support. The mood in the Warriors’ locker room, which was closed to the media after the game, was understandably somber, according to Brandin Podziemski. The young guard compared it to the feeling after Jimmy Butler tore the ACL in his right knee on Jan. 19.
“Same as what happened with Jimmy,” Podziemski said. “Not really words. You just hate to see it. Especially to the good people in life.”
Moody is well-liked by his teammates and coaches for his attitude, laidback demeanor and effort. He was in the middle of one of his best games of the year, scoring 23 points, grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists in 34 minutes while shooting 8-for-20 from the field. He was making a huge impact on a solid Warriors’ win.
Moody gingerly made his way out of the exam room on crutches, wearing a big brace around his knee. Warriors vice president of player health and performance Rick Celebrini helped Moody back to the locker room, along with several Warriors staffers.
“It’s tough,” Warriors guard Gary Payton II said. “It’s his first game back and he does so much rehab and everything (on his wrist), takes care of his body, does what he needs to do to get back and just to see a non-contact thing happen is just — annnoying to see. Especially to Moses. Moses does all the right things, is a professional, a pro. It sucks to see Moses go down, but (he’s) in our prayers. I know he’ll bounce back.”
The Warriors drafted Moody, 23, with the No. 14 pick in 2021. His play had been improving before he missed the previous 10 games with the wrist injury. While the Warriors were hoping that the latest setback wasn’t as severe as it appeared, the awful nature of seeing their friend and teammate injured in such a way was etched all over the faces of players, coaches and staffers late Monday night.
“I just feel for Mo, man,” Draymond Green said as he made his way out of the arena.
After Moody showered and changed, he was taken out of the locker room in a wheelchair, with a pile of towels propping up his left leg and foot, and the brace wrapped around the knee. It was a sad scene for a team that has dealt with a variety of difficult injuries throughout the year. Moody, who was being pushed in the wheelchair by Celebrini, accepted well-wishes as they made their way back to the bus.
“Mo is such a great human being,” Kerr said. “Great teammate. Wonderful guy to coach. Just puts in the work every day. And was brilliant by the way, played so well. Defensively, he changed the game for us there with his ball pressure and knocked down big shots. So great to finally have him back after he missed eight or 10 games, and then for that to happen — we’re just praying that it’s not too serious, but it sure looked serious.”