DALLAS -- Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo was relieved that he only suffered a hyperextended left knee during Saturday's 123-110 loss to the Golden State Warriors, originally fearing that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
"It's not the worst thing that could have happened, so I'm fine," Rondo said.
Rondo tore the ACL in his right knee in January 2013 and missed almost a whole year. He noted that he went back in the game when he suffered that injury.
Rondo, who will be a free agent this summer, immediately feared the worst when his left knee buckled in the third quarter Saturday. The injury occurred when he was inadvertently kicked in the left shin by Warriors forward Harrison Barnes after Rondo fouled Barnes on a transition layup.
After staying on the ground for several seconds, Rondo limped to the Mavs' bench. He soon left for the locker room, where he was examined by the Mavs' medical staff, which determined he hyperextended the knee and ruled Rondo out the rest of the game.
"I got looked at by the doctor and it wasn't what I thought it was," Rondo said. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't the same [as his previous knee injury]."
The Mavs were already without starting small forward Chandler Parsons, who did not play due to soreness and swelling in his right knee. Parsons' status is expected to be day to day.
The Mavs don't know whether Rondo, who Dallas acquired from the Boston Celtics in a December blockbuster deal, will miss any further action due to his injury.
"We don't think it's serious, but he hyperextended it," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We'll see how he's doing tomorrow and Monday and go from there."