NBA Finals Injury Update: Torrey Craig Out For Second Straight Game
A quick check of the latest NBA Finals injury reports indicates that impact Craig will miss a second straight game due to a bruised elbow. Another injury update cites the probable status of Isaiah Scott, who is questionable to return due to a “nasal contusion”. While Craig’s injury isn’t a major one, it does make him unavailable for the rest of the series. That means Cam Johnson will get more minutes.
Impact Craig will miss a second straight game with a bruised elbow
The Suns announced Saturday morning that forward Torrey Craig will miss a second consecutive game with a bruised right elbow. The forward missed the first two games of the series with a bruised elbow and was listed as probable for Game 3. He played just three minutes in each of those games and is likely to only play a small role in Game 3.
This is the second time this season that Torrey has been sidelined with a bruised elbow. Jae Crowder is out with a groin injury. The Suns will have to replace him with Jae Crowder, who is expected to miss at least a game. However, the Suns are hoping that Craig can be ready to start in Sunday’s game. Jae Crowder is also out for at least a couple more games with an injury.
It’s a big loss for the Suns without their leading scorer. The Suns won’t be able to counter this loss because Deandre Ayton is out for another season. He was unhappy with the Suns’ approach to making him a max player. If he can’t play, his contract with the Suns is over and he will become a restricted free agent.
Scott is questionable to return with a “nasal contusion”
The Denver Nuggets have received some bad news this week, as starting small forward Torrey Craig suffered a nose break during a game on Friday. After taking an elbow from Zach Collins, Craig landed on his face on Monte Morris’ leg, and then collapsed to the floor. He was bleeding profusely from the nose, and the team said he’s questionable to return with a “nasal contusion.”
In addition to Scott’s “nasal contusion,” there is a lot of other bad news. Randy Craig was photographed bleeding profusely on the court, and the team is now unsure if he will be ready to play in Game 3. With Craig out, the workload will shift to Malik Beasley, Will Barton, and Gary Harris.
Craig is out for the rest of the NBA Finals
The Suns are without their backup big man, Torrey Craig, after the rookie went down with an apparent right leg injury during Game 2 on Friday. Suns backup centers Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky were already out, as were reserve big man Langston Galloway and center Abdel Nader. The absence of Craig will test the Suns’ depth. Game 3 is set for Sunday in Milwaukee. If the Suns win, they’ll be in a strong position to win the series.
The Suns have a couple of options at forward. Craig will likely be available for Game 5, and he played just six minutes in the previous two games. The Suns could also turn to Abdel Nader and Cam Johnson, who are expected to receive more playing time without Craig. In mid-March, Craig averaged 7.2 points in eight starts. In the postseason, he has averaged less than 11 minutes. His absence is unlikely to have a major impact on the Suns’ rotation.
The Phoenix Suns are up 2-0 in the NBA Finals after Game 2 on Friday. Craig has been out with an injury since Game 1 due to an ACL tear. He played small ball in the absence of Saric, and was a major contributor in Game 1. However, in Game 2, Craig went out with a knee-to-knee collision with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ultimately, he is expected to miss the rest of the series due to a right knee contusion.
Cam Johnson will get more minutes
The Phoenix Suns have listed forward Cam Johnson out for Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a right quad contusion. Without him, Torrey Craig will get the bulk of the minutes, and the Suns will likely turn to the rookie to fill the void. Johnson has been averaging 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 60 games this season. His average of 22.6 FanDuel points per game makes him a solid option for deeper leagues.
The sophomore guard made a comeback against the Knicks in his first career in the NBA. Despite missing a month and a half with a quad injury, Johnson played in the final six games of the regular season. He averaged 8.6 points per game, and made 78 threes during that stretch. In his first two seasons, Johnson averaged 4.6 points and 1.3 rebounds.
The Suns needed a 3-and-D option to complement Mikal Bridges. The Suns acquired Torrey Craig at the trade deadline. His return will give the Suns more options, and will add a boost to their guardability. If Johnson is able to stay healthy, Williams will get more minutes. The veteran will improve his defensive rating and his shooting percentages. However, he may be limited to less than 30 minutes a game during the final stretch of the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has torn his ACL
ACL injuries are serious, but they also take time to heal. Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to miss Game 5 against the Atlanta Hawks. The 6-foot-11 center left Friday’s game with an ankle injury, but he still went on to score 32 points in 36 minutes. While he felt good to play despite the injury, he was worried when he woke up Saturday morning. He was scheduled to undergo imaging Wednesday, and the Bucks were unable to risk putting him out for the rest of the game.
The two-time NBA MVP didn’t talk about the injury during the series. Instead, he pointed to an empty space in the air. While the NBA team’s medical staff examined him, Antetokounmpo was not wearing a brace. He didn’t want to show the pain. But the injury left a lasting impression. Giannis did not return to the court for the final game of the series.
The Bucks haven’t made an official announcement, but rumors surfacing around the NBA playoffs suggest Antetokounmpo tore his ACL in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks are preparing for a long postseason without their star. But a player’s ACL can tear at any time, so Antetokounmpo has to stay strong.
Craig’s condition is unknown
The Indiana Pacers have ruled forward Torrey Craig out of Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to an injury. The Pacers downgraded Craig’s injury from a concussion to a non-COVID illness. Craig averages 5.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game, and he’s currently listed as day-to-day on the team’s injury report.
The NBA has not revealed what caused Craig’s injury, but the Suns were unsure of his condition. The forward played 18 games before getting traded, but it was still not the end of the world for him. The Nuggets are still counting on him to carry them to a championship. Craig has a very good offensive game, and they can use that to their advantage. The team is in need of a wing with size and athleticism, but they don’t have one.
The Phoenix Suns will have to travel to Milwaukee for Game 3 of the NBA Finals without their star forward. Without him, the Suns could be down a significant amount. Besides missing Torrey Craig, the Suns will be without Dario Saric for the rest of the series. The two teams have already won two games, but there’s still a long way to go. In the meantime, the Suns will be able to clinch the series.
