Hawks' DeMarre Carroll starts Game 2 vs. Cavs despite knee sprain
— -- ATLANTA -- Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll started for Atlanta in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite having suffered a left knee sprain 48 hours earlier in Game 1 of the series.
Carroll had been a game-time decision and was slotted into the starting lineup approximately 20 minutes before tipoff at Philips Arena. In the first half, he scored four points on 1-for-3 shooting and was 2-for-2 from the free throw line in 19 minutes of play. He didn't register a rebound, assist, block or steal in the half.
For the bulk of his minutes, Carroll drew the assignment of defending Cavaliers forward LeBron James. Carroll was the one-on-one defender on nine of James' 12 first-half plays, according to ESPN Stats & Info, during which James scored nine of his 17 points on 4-for-8 shooting.
Just over an hour prior to the game, Carroll warmed up with Hawks assistant coaches on the team's practice floor beside their locker room in Philips Arena. Carroll labored through many noncontact drills, grimacing quite a bit on lateral movements. He was then examined by the team's medical staff in the trainers' room and received additional treatment.
Carroll injured the knee on a fast break in the fourth quarter of Game 1, when he landed awkwardly on his left foot as he gathered the ball to elevate for a layup attempt. He was being guarded by Cavs wing Iman Shumpert, but there was no contact on the play. Carroll was helped to his feet and couldn't put pressure on the leg as he was helped off the floor and to the locker room.
X-ray and MRI results Thursday showed no structural damage in the knee, nor any ligament or cartilage tears. Carroll was diagnosed with a knee sprain and a bone bruise. Hawks players and coaches expressed relief that Carroll's injury wasn't as severe as initially believed, based on events Wednesday night.
Carroll is in the final season of a two-year, $5 million contract with Atlanta and will become a free agent this summer.
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