Cavaliers' Ricky Rubio Carried Off Floor After Suffering Knee Injury vs. Pelicans

Tyler Conway @@jtylerconwayFeatured Columnist IVDecember 29, 2021

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 22: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against the Charlotte Bobcats during the game on October 22, 2021 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio appeared to suffer a left knee injury during his team's 108-104 road loss against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.

ESPN's Andrew Lopez, NBA analyst Nate Duncan and The Athletic's Will Guillory provided more information:

Andrew Lopez @_Andrew_Lopez
Ricky Rubio just went down in a heap and immediately started to signal to the bench. He's been helped off the floor by teammates and he's not putting ANY weight on it. Rubio: 27 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists. Incredible game. Horrible to see it end like that...

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Uh oh, Ricky Rubio went down with a left knee injury with minimal contact. Immediately signaled for help from the bench, and had to be helped off. That's the knee he tore the ACL in back in 2012.

Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Ricky Rubio just went down and he can't put weight on his left knee. This would be a tremendous loss for Cleveland. He's been unbelievable tonight. He's heading straight to the locker room.

He had 27 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and two steals before exiting. Dean Wade replaced Rubio with 2:20 remaining in regulation.

Rubio entered Tuesday averaging 12.7 points and 6.5 assists through his first 32 games. He's provided steadiness to a Cleveland team that's been desperately searching for a point guard with a defensive presence.

Darius Garland could return to a more primary ball-handler role with Rubio out, but he's currently in the league's health and safety protocols.

Ultimately, losing Rubio for any amount of time will be a tough blow. If Rubio and Garland are out, more minutes figure to open for Kevin Pangos and Denzel Valentine, two guards who came off the bench Tuesday.

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