MRI Shows Bone Bruise For Hawks' Young, Whose Status Is Uncertain

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks realize dropping a third straight Eastern Conference Finals game to the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday night is not exactly optimal for their championship chances given the momentum the Bucks have generated over the past few days.

But, if the Hawks are hoping to even the best-of-seven series Tuesday night in Game 4 at State Farm Arena, overcoming star point guard Trae Young’s bruised right ankle could prove to be a huge obstacle.

Young was forced to leave Sunday’s 113-102 loss to the Bucks with the injury. After returning in the fourth quarter to test his ankle’s stability, Young told reporters the injury kept him from generating the kind of "blow-by speed" and productivity he displayed for the better of the first three quarters before he left for the locker room.

Young suffered the freak injury after attempting a step-back 3-pointer and landing awkwardly on an official’s foot. An MRI on Monday showed Young sustained a bone bruise on his right ankle after the team initially said he suffered a sprain, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Despite the Hawks clinging to a lead at the time of Young's return Sunday, Atlanta was only able to score nine points over the final 8 minutes and 44 seconds en route to the 11-point loss. Another loss on Tuesday at home would force the Hawks back on the road with Milwaukee needing just one more victory to close the Hawks out and advance to the NBA Finals.

Young, whose status for playing Tuesday night remains in limbo, said Sunday he did not want to forego the opportunity to see what he could do with the injury after leaving the game late in the third quarter.

“I wanted to go out there and at least try,” Young told reporters. “I got out there and hit my first 3, and it really feels like I should be out there and keep fighting, at least. That’s what I tried to do, is keep fighting.”

Young told reporters he would use Monday’s off-day to receive as much treatment as he can. In addition to the injury taking away Young’s speed in a final stretch when the Hawks weren’t able to run their offense through him like normal, soreness was also a major issue for the star guard.

Interim coach Nate McMillan said he will have to wait and see what guidance he receives from team doctors to determine if —or how much — Young could play on Tuesday. The fact the MRI revealed a bruise rather than a sprain may provide some hope that Young could be back on the floor and be productive as the Hawks hope to even the series.

“If they give me the OK that he can go and he won’t injure himself or do any more damage to his body, we’ll put him out there,” McMillan told reporters. “But all of that, I will get (Monday).”

In the meantime, Young and Atlanta’s hopes of advancing on to the championship series will rest in how much he can get out of his body, a day after things seemed to be moving in the Hawks’ direction before the injury took place.

“Obviously not happy about the loss, not happy about stepping on somebody’s foot," Hawks forward John Collins told reporters on Monday. “He’s in an OK spot for what’s going on, and I feel like he just wants to move on and get ready for next game.”