Chicago’s shot-making superhero is scheduled to undergo an MRI today. The reason: He strained his left hamstring in the first half of yesterday’s double-overtime thriller against the Celtics. Said Gordon: “I was driving and I heard something pop. It’s sore; hopefully it’s not too serious. I’m going to do what I need to do.”
I couldn’t make this out from my 300 level seats, but apparently Ben was riding a stationary bike (ala Dennis Rodman) when he wasn’t playing in the second half, and he had his leg connected to an electrical stimulation device as he left the United Center in Chicago last night. As Gordon explained: “It’s really sore. I’ll continue to treat it throughout the day and all the way up until next game. I got a shot to relieve the pain. But a game like that, you have to play through it.”
I’m not going to panic just yet, not until a little more is known about the extent of this injury. But it goes without saying that whatever chance the Bulls have in this series would blow away like dust in the wind without a reasonably healthy and mobile Ben Gordon.
Update! The MRI results are in: It’s just a sprained hammy. “An MRI exam on Monday showed Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon has only a strained left hamstring rather than a more severe injury, giving him a chance to play on Tuesday against Boston in the NBA playoffs. While his status for game five on Tuesday in Boston is in doubt, Gordon says he will play against the defending NBA champions even though he is listed as day-to-day.”
I’d be really shocked if he didn’t play.