Hawks’ Clint Capela suffers right knee hyperextension

Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela dunks during the first half of the team's NBA play-in basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday, April 15, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Atlanta Hawks' Clint Capela dunks during the first half of the team's NBA play-in basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday, April 15, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

CLEVELAND -- Hawks center Clint Capela did not play in the second half of the 107-101 win vs the Cavaliers Friday, having suffered a right knee hyperextension in the final minute of the first half.

Capela went down in pain and immediately grabbed his knee after fouling Cleveland’s Evan Mobley, with Mobley then falling on Capela’s knee. Capela was helped back to the Hawks’ locker room. He will undergo an MRI in Miami.

After the win, which awards the Hawks the East’s No. 8 seed, a first-round playoff series against No. 1 Miami beginning Sunday, Hawks coach Nate McMillan didn’t have any further update on Capela but said they’d know more by Saturday.

Capela had seven points and eight rebounds in 13 minutes before getting injured. He had just gotten healthy after battling Achilles pain for much of this season, has been crucial to the Hawks’ strong finish to the regular season and was key in Friday’s game, given Cleveland’s size and length.