Injuries kept on coming on the first week of the 2017-18 NBA season. After Gordon Hayward (fractured ankle) and Jeremy Lin (ruptured patellor tendon) suffered season-ending injuries, more NBA players are expected to miss significant amount of time with various issues.

Derrick Rose of the Cleveland Cavaliers and rookies Frank Ntilikina of the New York Knicks and Dennis Smith Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks are just the latest casualties of the injury bug that has swept through the league over the past three days.

Derrick Rose

The Cavs starting point guard has been listed day-to-day with a sprained left ankle.

Rose suffered the injury at the 10:12 mark of the fourth quarter, when the Cavs guard attempted a reverse layup but he was unintentionally ‘clotheslined’ by Milwaukee Bucks big man Greg Monroe. Rose then tweaked his ankle on his way down, leaving the former NBA MVP grimacing in pain yet again. He finished the game with 12 points in 23 minutes.

Rose has gone through various injuries over the past 4 years, including three major surgical operations in his knees. However, NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN assured the injury won’t keep the Cavs guard for a long time.

With Rose likely to miss the Cavs’ game against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, head coach Tyron Lue hinted veteran playmaker Jose Calderon would start in that game.

Frank Ntilikina

More bad news for the New York Knicks as their rookie guard suffered a painful ankle injury during a 4-on-4 scrimmage. Barbara Barker of Newsday posted a photo of Ntilikina being carried off the floor after he reportedly turned his left ankle. Because of the injury, the No.8 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft is listed questionable for Saturday’s game against the Detroit Pistons.

Fortunately for the Knicks, they have plenty of depth at the point guard spot after signing Ramon Sessions and Jarret Jack this offseason. The injury is a big blow to Nitlikina’s development, though the Knicks aren’t going to rush him back from the injury.

Dennis Smith Jr.

Coming off a scintillating NBA debut, the Mavs rookie guard missed Friday’s game against the Sacramento Kings and will probably skip Saturday’s intra-state showdown with the Houston Rockets with a left knee injury. Smith is apparently bothered by fluid building around the joint of his left knee. The injury is far from serious but it’s worth monitoring since it is the same knee that sustained a torn ACL during Smith’s high-school days. The Mavs selected Smith with the No.9 pick to become their point guard of the future, and so far the rookie hasn’t disappointed. He put up 16 points and 10 assists in a losing effort to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
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