Hornets' Hawes (MCL sprain) likely out for series
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Hornets reserve Spencer Hawes suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee and will miss Friday’s Game 6 against the Miami Heat, the team announced Thursday afternoon.
The Hornets said Hawes will be re-evaluated in a week, meaning he is likely out for the rest of the first-round series. Game 7, if necessary, would be played Sunday at Miami.
Hawes, whose playing time has steadily risen to 16 and 15 minutes the past two games, suffered the injury in Wednesday’s Game 5 win in Miami. He had an MRI on Thursday that revealed the sprain.
In his first season with the Hornets after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers last offseason, Hawes appeared in 57 games in the regular season, averaging 6.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 18.2 minutes per game.
Hawes, now in his ninth season after being drafted 10th overall in 2007, is averaging 3.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 10.6 minutes a game in the playoffs.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford recently praised Hawes’ ability to stretch the court while allowing Charlotte to still have size in the frontcourt.
The Hornets lead the series 3-2. Game 6 is Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
