Former Hoosier Victor Oladipo Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury in NBA Playoffs
MIAMI, Fla. — Former Hoosier guard Victor Oladipo suffered a season-ending injury after tearing his left patellar tendon in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference first-round series on Saturday night.
Apr 22, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo (4) is checked on after an injury in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks during game three of the 2023 NBA Playoffs at Kaseya Center.
© Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
In the fourth quarter of the Heat's 121-99 win over the Milwaukee Bucks for a 2-1 series lead, Oladipo yelled as he fell to the floor gripping his left knee. He was attempting to drive to the basket when it appeared he slipped and fell on his butt/back due to hyperextending his left leg on the drive.
Watch the slo-mo replay courtesy of @BallyHEAT on Twitter:
The Heat confirmed Sunday Oladipo will be out for the rest of the season, an unfortunate verdict as the former Indiana player has been riddled with injuries throughout his career including a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee he suffered in Jan. 2019. The same injury required a second surgery more than two years later. Following that injury, he didn't see the floor until March 2022.
Before his sealed fate for the 2023 NBA postseason, Oladipo was averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and one assist playing 22.5 minutes per contest. He shot 52.6 percent from the field and a flat 40 percent from beyond the arc.
The Heat hasn't won an NBA Finals since 2013 but are coming off a conference finals appearance in which it lost to the Boston Celtics in seven last season. The Heat will play in Game 4 of the first round Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET without Oladipo in Miami.
