Atlanta Hawks' Kyle Korver to undergo surgery on injured right ankle on Wednesday
Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver injured his right ankle in the third quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals when Cleveland Cavaliers’ Mathew Dellavadova rolled over his ankle when both players were hustling to get the loose ball. Four days after sustaining that injury, there were no reports of surgery or a timeline of the shooting guard’s return. According to NBA on TNT’s analyst David Aldridge, Kyle Korver is set to have surgery on his ankle on Wednesday.
The initial MRI on Saturday diagnosed the injury as a severe right ankle sprain. To take a second opinion, Korver had several tests done with a specialist in New York. The surgery was confirmed by the team after it was reported earlier in the day by TNT.
"There was some hope that surgery may not be required," Hawks coach and acting general manager Mike Budenholzer said. "But with additional information and additional testing he will need surgery to get him back to where we want him. We all want what's best for Kyle and look forward to having him back."
Hawks declined to offer a timetable until after the surgery was successful. Back-up forward Kent Bazemore started in place of Korver for Game 3 and 4 but could not stop the Cavaliers from sweeping the Hawks and advancing to the NBA Finals.
Earlier in the season, Korver was named an NBA All-Star and was on course to become the first player to have a 50-50-90 season (50% shooting from the field, 50% from beyond the arc and 90% from the free throw line). His late season slump not only put him off course but also hurt his team’s performance as Atlanta went 12-13 in their last 25 regular season games.