The New Orleans Hornets took a blow Monday night when rookie guard Austin Rivers, the 10th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, crumpled to the floor with a lower right leg injury. Shortly after Rivers was helped to the locker room, he was diagnosed with a sprained right ankle.
Austin Rivers injury: Hornets rookie sprains ankle
Hornets rookie point guard Austin Rivers sprained his right ankle Monday night.
Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE
Official word on Hornets rookie Austin Rivers after unnatural landing in Dallas is sprained right ankle
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 23, 2012
Rivers suffered the injury during the first half of New Orleans' road game at the Dallas Mavericks. In five previous preseason games, he had been playing well for a rookie getting his first NBA minutes, averaging nine points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He has had trouble shooting the 3, however, connecting on just 2-of-14 shots from behind the arc. Rivers has been playing roughly 30 minutes per game.
Rivers is the son of Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers. Last season with the Duke Blue Devils, the younger Rivers averaged 15.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and one steal in just over 30 minutes per game.
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