Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Thursday morning to determine the severity of the left knee injury that knocked him out of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals with 4:59 to play in the game.
Carroll’s knee buckled and appeared to hyperextend as he planted in the lane on a fast break he started with a steal of a pass from LeBron James.
Carroll hit the deck under the Hawks’ basket. He was helped to the locker room and approached at midcourt by James, who pounded Carroll on the back and tapped the top of his head as he exited the floor.
The Hawks’ leading scorer in the postseason at 17.1 points per game entering the conference finals, Carroll was diagnosed Wednesday night with a sprained knee. However, he put no weight on his left leg and his status for the remainder of the serious is in doubt.
“Somebody has to step up,” said point guard Jeff Teague, who led the Hawks with 27 points in the loss that pushes home-court advantage to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Coach Mike Budenholzer said the team should have a good idea of Carroll’s availability Thursday.
“We’ll see what we learn, and figure out what gives us our best chance,” said Budenholzer, the NBA Coach of the Year in 2014-15.
The best chance Wednesday was not Paul Millsap, who found himself checking James for long stretches because of lineup combinations and a tremendous shooting night by J.R. Smith. The Cavaliers’ sixth man made 8 of his first 10 attempts from 3-point range and scored 28 points.
“DeMarre is a perimeter player,” Budenholzer said. “I think most likely (we would) play more Kent Bazemore and players like that. Mike Scott and Mike Muscala are always ready.”