What Happened to Herb Jones Injury Update: Will He Return vs. Mavericks?

What happened to Herb Jones became a major question on Monday, December 22, after the New Orleans Pelicans wing exited early against the Dallas Mavericks. Jones headed to the locker room in the third quarter and was later ruled out with an ankle injury.

The Pelicans confirmed during the game that Herb Jones would not return. The injury occurred during live play, and no contact sequence was immediately identified on the broadcast.

What Happened to Herb Jones During Pelicans vs. Mavericks?

Herb Jones left the Pelicans’ game against the Mavericks midway through the third quarter on December 22. He was visibly limping as he walked toward the locker room, signaling a lower-body issue.

Shortly after his exit, the Pelicans officially listed Jones as out for the remainder of the game with an ankle injury. The team did not specify whether it was the left or right ankle.

Jones logged 22 minutes before leaving the floor. He finished with nine points, four assists, and two rebounds. His defensive presence was noticeable before the injury, especially on Dallas perimeter players.

No replay clearly showed the exact moment the injury occurred. Jones appeared to favor his ankle after a defensive possession, then signaled to the bench.

The Pelicans medical staff escorted him to the locker room for further evaluation. He did not return to the bench area for the rest of the game.

As of late Monday night Eastern Time, the Pelicans had not released additional diagnostic details. There was no immediate update on imaging or a timetable for his return.

According to the broadcast and team update, the decision to rule Jones out was precautionary. However, the severity remains unclear until further testing is completed.

Trusted outlets such as Associated Press and team reporters noted that the Pelicans are expected to provide an update after further evaluation. Any long-term status will likely depend on imaging results.

The Pelicans entered the game with a 7–22 record. They sit at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, making every rotation player important down the stretch.

How Herb Jones’ Injury Impacts the Pelicans Rotation

Herb Jones is one of the Pelicans’ most important defensive players. He regularly guards the opposing team’s top perimeter scorer.

If Jones misses additional time, New Orleans may lean more on Saddiq Bey and other wing defenders. That shift could impact defensive matchups more than offensive usage.

Jones is not a high-usage offensive option. He averages 9.8 points per game this season. His value comes from defense, transition play, and versatility.

He also averages 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. His defensive impact is reflected in his combined steals and blocks numbers.

The Pelicans have struggled defensively this season. Losing Jones, even temporarily, puts added pressure on a roster already dealing with inconsistency.

Jones has also been mentioned in recent trade discussions around the league. Any injury timeline could affect those conversations as the trade window approaches.

The team is expected to update his status before their next scheduled game. His availability will likely be listed on the injury report as day-to-day until more clarity emerges.

What happened to Herb Jones remains under evaluation, but the Pelicans have confirmed his ankle injury and ruled him out of Monday’s game. Further updates are expected once testing is completed.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What happened to Herb Jones in the Mavericks game?

Herb Jones suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter against Dallas. He limped to the locker room and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

Q2: Did Herb Jones return to the game vs. Mavericks?

No. The Pelicans confirmed that Jones would not return after exiting in the third quarter.

Q3: What injury does Herb Jones have?

The team listed Herb Jones with an ankle injury. No further details were provided immediately.

Q4: How long could Herb Jones be out?

There is no official timetable yet. His status will depend on imaging and follow-up evaluations.

Q5: Who replaces Herb Jones if he misses time?

Saddiq Bey and other wing players are expected to see increased minutes if Jones remains sidelined.