The Portland Trail Blazers suffered more than just a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, as one of their key players in Damian Lillard suffered a devastating injury blow during the contest.

The Trail Blazers were defeated by the Mavericks 115-109 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas last night, but most of the focus after the game, especially for the visitors, was on the health of Lillard who picked up an ankle injury.

The point guard sprained his ankle late in the game on Tuesday, but managed to play through it, finishing the contest with 29 points, five rebounds, eight assists, two steals, a block, and he was 6-of-20 in shooting from the field.

After the game though, the damage to the ankle began to show, as it swelled up, causing discomfort when walking on it. Reports by CBS Sports have stated that he had to be taken to the team bus from locker room via a cart.

Lillard said after the game: "I think I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but I'm going to be smart about it. It's the end of the season, we are going into the playoffs, so I have to be smart that one thing doesn't turn into another.''

As for what caused the ankle sprain, the Blazers star believes he landed on someone's foot, but he wasn't sure who's foot it was, as he said to ESPN: "I jumped up and I landed on it, all my weight on one foot after I jumped off one foot. Just in a vulnerable position."

Portland booked their spot in this year's postseason with a win against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, but they still have a chance to clinch home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, so it's important for them to have their point guard on the court as much as possible.

The Trail Blazers will be hoping Lillard is healthy enough to play in the team's next game, as they'll need him on Thursday when the team travels to Houston to play against the Western Conference leaders and the team with the best record in the NBA right now in the Rockets.

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