Hawks’ Clint Capela ruled out for the season
The Atlanta Hawks suffered a significant blow with big man Clint Capela expected to miss the rest of the season due to a left hand injury.
An MRI revealed that he has a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his hand. Capela will receive another evaluation in three to four weeks.
The 30-year-old has experienced a drop in production after losing his starting role to Onyeka Okongwu. He is averaging 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 55 games with 41 starts, snapping his streak of eight straight seasons averaging double-digit scoring.
Capela is in the second year of his two-year, $45.8 million deal. His reduced role may lead him to latch onto another franchise over the summer.
He’s proven to be a strong factor on the glass and a solid rim protector, but his limitations offensively contributed to continued diminishing playing time over the last couple of seasons.
The Hawks are currently the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference standings, trailing the Detroit Pistons by 4.5 games for the sixth spot to avoid the play-in tournament.
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Atlanta has won seven out of their last 10 games, including their last three straight. Trae Young has kept the Hawks more than afloat in their playoff push, averaging a double-double with a team-high 24.1 points and a league-best 11.4 assists.
Young has posted three double-doubles in the last four games, including four straight 20-point performances. Atlanta is starting on Tuesday a three-game road trip that features games against the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks.
