Nba playoffs, injuries: when Doncic, Booker, Middleton return

They are like party poppers, unwanted guests that no one wants. “Injuries are part of the game” said Monty Williams, Phoenix coach who has to figure out how to do without Devin Booker, one of his stars. Injuries are the unexpected protagonists of this start of the Playoff, already a problem for several teams that have to give up important pieces of their ambitions. Series by series, team by team, here is the situation and recovery times.

Race-3 in Georgia on the Italian night

You love me: no long-term inpatient
Atlanta: Clint Capela has a hyperextension in his right knee and will be reevaluated at the end of the series. John Collins he returned to race-1 but is still running in after a month off.

Race 3 Saturday at the Barclays Center

Boston: Robert Williams III he has been out since March 27 for a meniscus injury in his left knee. He should have been out for 4-6 weeks, but he would be close to returning: according to rumors he could already play in game-3 in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn: Ben Simmons, who has not yet played this season, is aiming to make his debut in Game 4 on Monday. The Nets are without Joe Harriswhich ended the season after an operation on his left ankle.

Race-3 in the Windy City on the Italian night

Milwaukee: Khris Middleton he will be re-evaluated in two weeks for the medial collateral sprain of the left knee remedied in game-2: his series against the Bulls is already over.
Chicago: The Bulls are playing the series without Lonzo Ballwho has already ended his season with a meniscus injury in his left knee

Race-4 Saturday at 20 Italian in Canada

Philadelphia: Joel Embiid he is playing with a slight sprain in his right thumb. Matisse Thybulle he cannot play in Canada because he is not vaccinated against Covid.
Toronto: The rookie Scottie Barnes he missed the last two games due to a sprained left ankle remedied in game-1

Race 3 tonight in the Big Easy

Phoenix: Devin Booker in race-2 remedied a hamstring strain in his right knee. He will miss the two games in New Orleans and then will be reevaluated, but according to rumors he is likely to have it for at least 2 weeks and therefore have already closed the series.
New Orleans: The Pelicans have not officially ruled out Zion Williamson from the series, but the long has not yet played this year and is slowly recovering from a fractured left foot. Unlikely to take the field.

Race-4 Saturday in Minneapolis

Memphis: nobody
Minnesota: nobody

Race-4 on Sunday at 9.30 pm Italian time in Colorado

Golden State: Steph Curry he is still playing in limited time after a month off. The Warriors have not James Wisemanwho did not play this year.
Denver: The Nuggets in the series have not Jamal Murraywho did not play in 2021-22, e Michael Porter Jr, who had surgery on his back in early November. Neither have officially ended the season, but they are highly unlikely to play despite the Nuggets being cornered.

Race-4 Saturday in Salt Lake City at 10.30pm Italian time

Dallas: Luka Doncic has not yet played in this series due to the strain in the left calf remedied on the last day of the regular season. The decision to keep him out of race-3 was made only at the last minute. Probably he will return to the field in the fourth act. The Mavs don’t have Tim Hardaway Jrwho underwent surgery on his left foot.
Utah: The rookie Trent Forrest is evaluated week to week for a sprained left foot. Udoka Azubuike is out indefinitely.