Dante Exum's horror NBA injury run has continued with the Utah Jazz's Australian guard limping off the court with a left hamstring injury.
Exum was dribbling around Houston Rockets' All-Star James Harden when he suffered the injury, left the court, came back on, attempted a three-pointer that missed and then headed in pain to the Utah locker room.
The Jazz went on to lose the game 100-87, with the Rockets taking a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Western Conference semi-final series.
Jazz medical staff described Exum's injury as "left hamstring soreness".
Exum has been plagued by injuries since the Jazz drafted him with their fifth pick in 2014, including undergoing shoulder surgery in October and sitting out four months.
In 2015 he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee playing for the Australian national team.
It is a tough blow as Exum has had a strong series against Houston and had nine points on Sunday before the third-quarter injury.
He also becomes a restricted free agent after the season and was hoping to secure a new big contract.
The Jazz are already without their starting point guard Ricky Rubio, who is out with a hamstring injury.
"It was disappointing Dante had to go out," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.
"I thought he really gave us a lift."
