Kyle Korver knew it right away.
The Hawks starting guard could tell by the sound. Once he got a look at himself, there was no doubt he had broken his nose for a third time.
Korver, wearing a protective mask, returned to the Hawks lineup in Sunday’s loss to the Spurs after missing three straight games with the injury.
“Oh yeah, I heard the crunch, felt the crunch,” Korver told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s my third time breaking my nose. I knew it was broken. Then you look in the mirror and you really know it’s broken.”
Korver said he broke his nose once in college and one other time as a professional when he dove for a loose ball and Desmond Mason jumped on his head and forced his nose into the court.
Korver’s latest injury came against the Lakers last Sunday when he caught a shoulder from Ed Davis. His nose began to bleed immediately and he returned to the locker room to be examined. Korver remained in Los Angeles for an operation Monday and returned to Atlanta on Friday with a protective mask. He was able to work out with the gear for several days.
Korver wore the mask against the Spurs and finished with six points, with two 3-pointers, but five turnovers. He said he will have to wear the mask for two or three weeks.
“It’s a mask on your face,” Korver said. “You just have to keep on adjusting to it. I don’t even like wristbands so something on my face is not ideal. At the same time, you are grateful you can come back and play.”
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