Mavs' Williams aggravates ab injury, out for game
DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks point guard Deron Williams returned to action Saturday, but lasted less than 90 seconds before being ruled out for the rest of Game 4.
Williams aggravated his abdominal strain while chasing a loose ball near the Mavs’ bench during the first minute of the game. He left the game at the 10:31 mark of the first quarter, and the Mavs quickly announced that he would not return.
Williams’ status for the rest of the series is in doubt.
Williams missed Game 3 because of an abdominal strain and sports hernia, which could require offseason surgery. His hot start in Game 2, in which he scored 11 points in the first five minutes, was critical to the Mavs’ lone win of the series. However, he exited that game midway through the third quarter in excruciating pain.
Williams missed eight games late in the season because of the ailment. He returned after J.J. Barea strained his groin, and his 23-point, six-assist performance against the Utah Jazz helped the Mavs clinch a playoff berth.
Williams, who averaged 14.1 points and a team-high 5.8 assists per game this season, can opt out of the second year of his contract this summer.
