This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
The biggest injury of the NBA season comes just as the fantasy postseason emerges on the horizon. Durant suffered a knee injury following a collision with teammate Zaza Pachulia. On the play, Pachulia inadvertently crashed into Durant, forcing the former MVP's left knee into hyperextension. The Warriors initially referred to the injury as a hyperextended knee though fears about a possible fracture existed. Further testing revealed Durant suffered a Grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain and tibial bone contusion. While the injury isn't an ailment to take lightly, it's much more manageable than a tibial fracture or complete ligament rupture.
The diagnosis from Golden State provides insight to the injury detailing the ligament involved and the severity of the damage accrued. The MCL is one of the four primary ligament stabilizers of the knee. While the ACL and PCL prevent forward and backward translation, the MCL is responsible for supporting the knee in lateral or side-to-side movements.
Mild sprains are given a Grade 1 classification if the overall damage is minimal and the integrity of the ligament remains structurally intact. Durant's sprain was given a Grade 2 classification, indicating a more moderate sprain. In Grade 2 sprains, damage has occurred to the individual fibers that make up the ligament. These types of injuries are often referred to as a partial or incomplete tear. Fortunately, Grade 2 MCL sprains are capable of healing without surgical intervention, especially if the medial meniscus remains uninvolved.
There are multiple cases
The biggest injury of the NBA season comes just as the fantasy postseason emerges on the horizon. Durant suffered a knee injury following a collision with teammate Zaza Pachulia. On the play, Pachulia inadvertently crashed into Durant, forcing the former MVP's left knee into hyperextension. The Warriors initially referred to the injury as a hyperextended knee though fears about a possible fracture existed. Further testing revealed Durant suffered a Grade 2 medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain and tibial bone contusion. While the injury isn't an ailment to take lightly, it's much more manageable than a tibial fracture or complete ligament rupture.
The diagnosis from Golden State provides insight to the injury detailing the ligament involved and the severity of the damage accrued. The MCL is one of the four primary ligament stabilizers of the knee. While the ACL and PCL prevent forward and backward translation, the MCL is responsible for supporting the knee in lateral or side-to-side movements.
Mild sprains are given a Grade 1 classification if the overall damage is minimal and the integrity of the ligament remains structurally intact. Durant's sprain was given a Grade 2 classification, indicating a more moderate sprain. In Grade 2 sprains, damage has occurred to the individual fibers that make up the ligament. These types of injuries are often referred to as a partial or incomplete tear. Fortunately, Grade 2 MCL sprains are capable of healing without surgical intervention, especially if the medial meniscus remains uninvolved.
There are multiple cases of players suffering isolated Grade 2 MCL sprains during the regular season, including Marc Gasol, Rudy Gobert and Zach Randolph. These players, along with nine other examples, missed an average of 21 games. This equates to roughly six weeks. At the time of Durant's injury the Warriors had 22 regular season games remaining.
However, Durant's tibial bone contusion could prolong this timeline. Bone contusions, especially in weight-bearing areas like the tibia, can be slow to repair and require ample time to appropriately heal. Furthermore, Golden State has a history of treating their superstars conservatively. The team publically stated Durant will be re-evaluated in four weeks but that doesn't mean he will return at that time. Given the uncertainty of an exact timeline, I think Durant is droppable in most one-year leagues. His absence is likely to extend into the fantasy playoffs, making it hard to manage games played. Stash him and hope for a quick recovery if you have an injured reserve spot, but make sure you have a reliable insurance policy handy. Recently added Matt Barnes has joined the Golden State starting lineup but was underwhelming in his debut, scoring three points in 19 minutes of action.
The Hornets second-year forward had found his stride in Charlotte's five games after the All-Star break, averaging 19.2 points, 3.0 made three-points and 6.4 rebounds. Unfortunately, he suffered a shoulder injury on Thursday. The injury has been diagnosed as an acromioclavicular (AC) sprain and Kaminsky is expected to miss the next 10 to 14 days.
The shoulder is a complex joint composed of multiple articulations. The primary shoulder joint is the glenohumeral (GH) joint. An injury to this area is usually described as a subluxation or dislocation and can involve the fibrocartilage ring known as the labrum. The AC joint of the shoulder is located at the distal end of the clavicle (collarbone), where it articulates with a bony process of the scapula (shoulder blade) known as the acromion. The AC joint serves as a strut for the arm and enables an individual to elevate his arm above his head. The AC joint is fortified by multiple ligaments, including the acromioclavicular (AC) and coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments. Like previously discussed with Durant's MCL injury, ligament injuries are graded on the severity of damage. Unfortunately, the Hornets did not reveal the specific surrounding the extent of the damage. The initial timeline provided does suggest the injury is a Grade 1 sprain but that's purely speculation.
For now Kaminsky will focus on retaining range of motion in the area while managing the associated symptoms. His absence has allowed Cody Zeller to reclaim the starting spot he lost while nursing a lingering quadriceps contusion. While Zeller still hasn't recorded a block since returning last week, he has rebounded the ball well and is starting to look like the fantasy relevant center he was for most of December and January.
Fast Breaks
Al Horford: Horford wasn't available Sunday after spraining his right elbow on Friday. The team didn't provide an expected timeline though it wouldn't be surprising to see him miss another game or two. The Celtics play four games this week but he still will be a risky play in weekly formats. Tread cautiously here and keep a close eye on Monday's lineup to determine his value for the week ahead. Jonas Jerebko joined the starting lineup, but Amir Johnson was the biggest beneficiary of Horford's absence. Johnson will see a small boost in the short term, especially in daily leagues, but neither player should have sustained fantasy value.
Nikola Vucevic: The Orlando center has been playing on an injured Achilles for nearly a month. Vucevic admitted he initially hurt the Achilles in mid-February during a loss to the Mavericks but had been able to play through the lingering pain. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, the problem finally caught up to him as Vucevic was in street clothes for Sunday's loss to the Wizards. Consider him day-to-day for the week ahead. Bismack Biyombo is worth a look if Vucevic's injury forces him to miss more time. Biyombo received his first start since early January on Sunday and finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
DeMarre Carroll: Carroll suffered a left ankle sprain over the weekend and was unable to finish the team's loss to the Bucks. He's considered day-to-day, but the Raptors are one of seven teams limited to three games this week. The extra rest could allow Carroll to return by Wednesday but it makes him a precarious play in weekly formats. Norman Powell and P.J. Tucker could see an increase in responsibilities if Carroll is forced to miss time.
