Hawks center Clint Capela suffered a hyperextension of his right knee in Atlanta’s play-in game against Cleveland and has been ruled out for the remainder of the game, the team announced.
The injury occurred in the second quarter of the game. After an Evan Mobley pump-fake, Capela fouled Mobley, who then fell backward into Capela’s right knee, bending it backward while it was planted. It was a scary-looking injury, and Capela immediately went down in pain, grabbing his knee. Capela had to be helped back to the team’s locker room.
Atlanta trailed 61-51 at halftime of the contest, which will determine the No. 8 seed in the East. Capela’s absence could be a devastating blow for the Hawks, who were already playing without John Collins, the team’s normal starter at power forward.
Second-year big man Onyeka Okongwu is starting in place of Capela in the second-half and figures to see heavy minutes in his absence. Little-used backup Gorgui Dieng could also receive some playing time with Atlanta’s frontcourt short-handed.
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