Game 3 of their playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks was nearly perfect for the Miami Heat. The Heat dominated the game from the outset and took a 2-1 series lead against the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
But in the final minutes of the game, disaster struck Miami.
Victor Oladipo drove to the hoop when something went wrong. Oladipo planted awkwardly, then fell out of control to the floor. He immediately grabbed his left knee.
Victor Oladipo went down and grabbed his knee after this play 😳 pic.twitter.com/oENCnLDQqB
— Backcourt Alerts (@BackcourtAlerts) April 23, 2023
He was eventually aided off of the floor, putting little weight on the knee.
Victor Oladipo was helped off the court after he went down with an apparent knee injury in the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/LvVxbBd9dE
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 23, 2023
There is never a good time for an injury. That said, the final minutes of a blowout playoff game is the worst time imaginable for a player to get hurt.
Basketball fans sent their best wishes toward Oladipo, hoping for a speedy recovery.
Victor Oladipo just went down with an apparent knee injury and had to be helped to the locker room…Prayers up. 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/8qayZ89DKM
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 23, 2023
Prayers up for Victor Oladipo. He has been through the ringer with injuries. DEVASTATED for him.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 23, 2023
Life is so unfair watching victor oladipo get injured literally every 6 months when all he does is work hard then we watch ben simmons just sit out games collecting checks so he can date Instagram models pic.twitter.com/bWJUZqPTiX
— John (@iam_johnw) April 23, 2023
Just when I was ready to tweet the Bucks were in trouble, having to win 3 of 4 vs Heat – even with Giannis – THAT happened to Oladipo. Didn't initially look that bad. But – NO – he had to be helped to locker room. He has suffered so many injuries. HOPE THIS ISN'T ANOTHER BAD ONE.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 23, 2023
Oladipo is like the nicest dude ever. He never complains. Always pure. He don’t deserve this
— Austin (@ChefTrillie_) April 23, 2023
Prayers out for Victor Oladipo
Never gets a break from this type of stuff
— Aidan Doc🧸 (@AidanDoc_) April 23, 2023
Oladipo been through enough. Hope hes good
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) April 23, 2023
Unfortunately, at first glance at least, the injury looked significant.
Hate to see this for Victor Oladipo but the way the knee buckled it looks like
—Possible Patellar tendon tear pic.twitter.com/eEZoYk6OgD
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) April 23, 2023
Oladipo has had abysmal injury luck over the last several seasons. Early on in his career, he largely avoided the injury bug. In each of his first five NBA seasons, Oladipo played in 67 or more games. But since playing 75 games during the 2017-18 season, it’s been a much different story.
Oladipo suited 42 times for the Heat during the 2022-23 season. And while that represents just over half of the games, it was his highest total since that 2017-18 season.
