Hawks' Lou Williams suffers season-ending knee injury

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By Ben Golliver

The Hawks announced Saturday that guard Lou Williams suffered a season-ending right knee injury during a 94-89 loss to the Nets in Brooklyn on Friday.

Hawks guard Lou Williams experienced a right knee sprain during Atlanta’s game last night at Brooklyn. X-rays taken during the game at the Barclays Center were negative. An MRI and examination today by Dr. Michael Bernot at Peachtree Orthopedics in Atlanta revealed a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

"We are extremely disappointed for Lou and our thoughts and support will be with him during his recovery," said President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Danny Ferry. "He has been a complete professional in every sense of the word and know that approach, along with his work ethic, will serve him well in his rehabilitation."

He will miss the remainder of the season and a timetable for his recovery will be announced following surgery.

The injury occurred with a little more than seven minutes remaining in the second quarter and the game tied at 36. Williams stole the ball from Nets forward Mirza Teletovic and ran out in transition. As he prepared to take off for a lay-up attempt, Williams' right leg gave way and he immediately came up hobbling. 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the scene.

He screamed out several times as he continued off the court without putting weight on his leg. After lying down in the entryway to the arena to be attended to by Hawks trainers, Williams was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.

Williams still could not put any weight on his leg following the game. He was helped to the training room by teammate Mike Scott when the locker room opened to the media post game.

Williams, 26, signed a three-year contract worth a reported $15.7 million with the Hawks over the summer after spending the first seven years of his career with the Sixers. Williams was averaging 14.1 points, 3.6 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 28.7 minutes per game this season. Primarily used by coach Larry Drew as a scoring guard off of the bench, Williams was the Hawks third-leading scorer.

Drew's backcourt includes starting point guard Jeff Teague, Devin Harris, DeShawn Stevenson, Anthony Morrow and rookie John Jenkins. The Hawks' roster currently sits at 14 players, one short of the maximum.