Dallas Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons will miss the rest of the playoffs with an injury to his right knee, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. The grim reality was always on the table for the Mavericks, and it now appears official.

The Mavericks have confirmed the news. Parsons will explore surgery to fix the problem, MacMahon reports.

Parsons suffered the injury in late March against the Pacers and was in and out of the lineup during the last month of the season. He appeared poised to return before the playoffs, but suffered a setback during the final week of the season. He tried to gut it out in Game 1 on Saturday, but was limited and eventually had to leave the game. He did not play in Game 2.

The Mavericks had a feeling bad injury news was coming. Coach Rick Carlisle said "the knee is not responding the way we hoped" when asked after Game 2. The team was preparing as if Parsons would not return.

Parsons averaged 16 points, five rebounds and two assists in his first year with the Mavericks after signing a three-year, $45 million contract to leave Houston.