Charlotte Hornets swingman Nicolas Batum missed games three and four vs. the Miami Heat with an ankle injury. He will likely play in game five though, per Hornets head coach Steve Clifford:
Clifford says @hornets Nic Batum participated in shootaround and will most likely play tonight.
— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) April 27, 2016
INJURY REPORT: @hornets Nic Batum is officially listed as a game-time decision for tonight's Game 5 at MIA.
— Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) April 27, 2016
The Hornets dropped games one and two in Miami with Batum active, but were able to even the series at 2-2 by winning both of their home games.
Now that the Hornets have won their last two, they’ll have momentum on their side, although some of that momentum will be negated by Miami’s home court advantage. Batum is one of the most well-rounded, versatile players in the league. He’s a terrific defender who can guard multiple positions. He’s an intelligent passer, and can even shoot from deep(although his shooting numbers have somewhat dipped in recent years). Batum’s return(if it happens) will be huge for this Hornets team. He’s arguably their most valuable player due to his versatility and basketball IQ.
This season for the Hornets, Batum averaged 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 42.6% from the field, 34.8% from downtown, and 84.9% from the foul line.
