The Hawks got some good news Thursday morning. After what looked like a serious left knee injury in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, something that could have kept him out long past this series, it turns out it’s not nearly as bad as it looked. ESPN.com’s Kevin Arnovitz reports that the injury is a bone bruise and there’s still a chance Carroll might play on Friday.
This is great news for the Hawks. In real time, the injury looked like it could be an ACL or something equally bad, and Carroll could not put weight on his left leg after the game. For it to only be a mild hyperextension is a huge break. Carroll is Atlanta’s best option to defend LeBron James, and they likely would have been finished without him. If he’s able to play again, the series might not be as over as it looked after he went down.
DeMarre Carroll has been diagnosed with a hyperextension of the left knee. No structural/ligament damage. Bone bruise. Questionable for G2.
— Kevin Arnovitz (@kevinarnovitz) May 21, 2015
Sources who have been monitoring Carroll’s situation closely characterize it as “best case scenario.” Small bone bruise/mild hyperextension.
— Kevin Arnovitz (@kevinarnovitz) May 21, 2015
This is great news for the Hawks. In real time, the injury looked like it could be an ACL or something equally bad, and Carroll could not put weight on his left leg after the game. For it to only be a mild hyperextension is a huge break. Carroll is Atlanta’s best option to defend LeBron James, and they likely would have been finished without him. If he’s able to play again, the series might not be as over as it looked after he went down.