ATLANTA (USA Today) —This 2014-15 NBA season has been defined by so much greatness: Steph Curry’s wonderful, joyful MVP season. James Harden’s marked improvement. Anthony Davis’ scary-good emergence. Jimmy Butler’s unforeseen growth. Russell Westbrook’s triple-double spree. John Wall, Klay Thompson, Blake Griffin, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard. The list is longer, too, as a new generation of stars finds its place in the league.
But as much as that has been the case, injuries all season long – and now in particular during the playoffs – have dimmed the tone of fantastic performances.
The latest: Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll who sustained a sprained left knee with 4:59 remaining left in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s 97-89 victory over Atlanta Wednesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Game 2 is Friday in Atlanta, and Carroll, who left Philips Arena on crutches, is expected to undergo an MRI on Thursday to determine the extent of his injury.