UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: The Bobcats announced that an MRI revealed a second degree sprain in Kemba Walker’s left ankle that is expected to sideline him up 10-14 days.
2:00 p.m.: You knew it wasn’t going to be good when Kemba Walker’s teammates had to carry him to the locker room because he couldn’t put any weight on his left ankle.
Four minutes into the third quarter Saturday night against Miami, Walker blocked a shot on defense and as the Bobcats got back to the other end he went for a layup but stepped on Chris Bosh’s foot.
X-rays were negative but Walker didn’t return, and an MRI is scheduled for Sunday. Coach Steve Clifford said that Walker would be out “a while” with this injury.
That will be a huge blow to the Bobcats — Walker leads them in scoring (18.7 a game) plus he dishes out five assists a night as the focal point of their offense. Charlotte will lean more on Ramon Sessions, and while he can make some plays, that is a pretty big drop off.
Charlotte is currently the nine seed in the East at 17-25, one game back of surging Brooklyn as the eight seed. With Walker out they could drop a little ways, more than they could make up in the East.