Dennis Schroder likely won't play in Monday's game at Miami after suffering what appeared to be a bone bruise in his left foot Sunday during the final minutes of the Hawk's 116-104 loss at Brooklyn.
X-rays on Sunday revealed nothing serious, Schroder said, and he will aim to be back on the floor later this week, possibly for Thursday's game at Chicago, the final road game of a five-game swing to open the season. The Hawks home opener is Friday against Denver.
"That's my plan [to return Thursday], I don't know how it works out," Schroder told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in the locker room after he iced his left ankle and spoke to Hawks' medical personnel. "Let the team try to win the game in Miami and then we going to see day-by-day."
He added: "They told me just now about the X-ray, it was nothing serious."
Schroder, who entered averaging 26.5 points and 6.0 assists, went for 17 points on 5 of 22 shooting and eight assists in the loss.
With 3:37 remaining, he drove to the basket and tried to draw contact but landed awkwardly on Caris LeVert's foot. He fell to the floor clutching his left ankle and had to be helped off the court. He had tallied six points in the final period.
"I tried to get the contact, get the foul, you know," Schroder said. "And I tried to throw it up and tried to jump off of my left foot, but then I rolled it. It's just basketball and it happens sometimes."
Schroder was hoping he could help lead the Hawks to the comeback win before the injury.
"It's tough," Schroder said. "We had a great effort. We came back. We were down 14 [entering the fourth period], did a great job. I was on the bench and the bench players did a great job. Then I came back in and was aggressive. [Marco] Belinelli hit some tough shots. It was kind of sad, but it's basketball."
Assuming Schroder is unable to go Monday, and possibly beyond that, Malcolm Delaney says he's ready to step up.
"I mean I'm ready," said Delaney, who went for five points and four assists in 22 minutes off the bench. "That's a role that I've always played so I'm comfortable playing it."
Delaney added: "As a backup you just have to be prepared for anything and it's unfortunate. Hopefully Dennis is good but that's part of my job. Just got to stay ready and figure out whatever."
If Schroder is out for an extended period, "Malcolm will probably have to shift over and become the starter," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "At the backup point guard we've got Josh Magette who's been great for us through camp and we just added Isaiah Taylor so one of those two young guys, Josh or Isaiah, will proably get some minutes.
"We'll just how Dennis' ankle is and kind of talk about it and come up with a plan for [Monday] and going forward."
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