Crowder escapes Smith’s vicious cheap shot with sprain, bruise

The Herald’s Mark Murphy has the good news about Jae Crowder’s injury:

Celtics forward Jae Crowder has a sprained left knee and bone bruise, and will not need surgery, according to a source.

The prognosis for the 24-year-old is rest and rehabilitation, the source said.

Crowder suffered the injury early in the third quarter of yesterday’s 101-93 loss to the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at TD Garden. While battling for a rebound with Crowder, Cleveland’s J.R. Smith delivered a backhanded blow to Crowder’s face. The punch sent Crowder to the floor and caused his left knee to twist in an awkward way. The injury forced Crowder out of the game for the remainder of the contest.

This is fantastic news considering whispers surfaced it might be a torn ACL situation.

As for that scumbag JR Smith, he deserves a multiple game suspension for that blatant punch. Charles Barkley thinks it should be 10 games. I agree, but expect 3 games. I wouldn’t be surprised if the league handed out a mere 1 game suspension (can’t upset Lebron).

Here is Smith’s flimsy explanation lie:

“I know I’m nervous as hell to see what could come out of this,” Smith said after the game. “It’s a situation I put my teammates in and it’s a selfish act…Hopefully it works out for the best.”

Smith did his best to tell his version of the event.

“As I’m boxing him out, I kept feeling his forearm on the upper part of my shoulders,” he explained. “I tried to keep backing up, backing up. He kept pushing, pushing, pushing. And unfortunately I tried to swing my arm loose thinking that was the best way to get my arm up in position to rebound and I made contact.”

Crock of sh*t.