Sources – Jazz’s Taylor Hendricks will miss the remainder of the season

DALLAS – Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks was able to overcome Monday's 110-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks after suffering a fractured right fibula and a sprained ankle, the team announced.

Hendricks will return to Utah with the team on Tuesday for further testing, Jazz coach Will Hardy said after the game.

Hendricks, 20, is expected to miss the rest of the season, sources told ESPN.

“It's hard to take,” Hardy said of Hendricks' injury. “He did a lot of hard work. He's a great kid and so we're really just trying to focus on him, on his health, on keeping him fit, on his spirits as he starts the road to recovery. But that’s what they are.” The moments in sports that suck.

Hendricks suddenly collapsed without contact with 5:59 left in the third quarter. His right lower leg was cruelly turned outwards.

Medical staff immediately brought a stretcher to the courtroom. Hendricks wore a protective boot on his right foot and used crutches as he left American Airlines Center after the game.

The Jazz announced after the game that further updates on Hendricks' status would be provided “as appropriate.”

The 6-foot-9 Hendricks, the No. 9 pick in the 2023 draft, is an important part of the Jazz's rebuilding project. He is considered an outstanding defender and was given the job to Dallas superstar Luka Doncic on Monday evening.

Hendricks averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds as a rookie and moved into the starting lineup regularly this season after working on getting significantly stronger over the summer.

“This is far from over for him,” Hardy said. “This is a pause button for Taylor. You can see his work paying off early this season. You can see the flashes, you can see where this could take him, and that's a credit to him.”