Caron Butler's Season Could Be Over

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Injuries

Caron Butler could miss at least a couple of months -- and possibly the rest of the season -- with a serious knee injury suffered Saturday night in Milwaukee.

The Dallas Mavericks won't make an official announcement until reviewing Butler's MRI results, but a source close to the injured forward confirmed to The Associated Press that the initial diagnosis is a torn patellar tendon.

Butler has averaged 15.0 points in 29.9 minutes a game this season. He scored a season-high 30 points against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, one game before suffering the injury.

No matter how long he's sidelined, Butler's injury is just the latest obstacle for the short-handed Mavericks. Shawn Marion returned Sunday after missing a game with a thigh contusion, but Dirk Nowitzki is still day-to-day with a sprained knee. The Mavericks have lost three of four in Nowitzki's absence.

The loss of two starters forced coach Rick Carlisle to get creative with his lineup Sunday in Cleveland. Marion, who's come off the bench in all but five games this season, started at power forward. Jason Terry started his sixth game of the year at shooting guard, pushing DeShawn Stevenson to small forward.

 

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