Paul Millsap undergoes non-surgical knee procedure

Paul Millsap will miss at least another three games after undergoing a non-surgical procedure to deal with left knee synovitis.

You probably didn’t know this, but Paul Millsap deserves at least a handful of fifth place MVP votes for his 2016-17 season with the Atlanta Hawks.

His 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game may not leap off the page the way that numbers from Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James have this season, but Atlanta’s 0-8 record without Millsap says all you need to know about his value to the No. 5 team in the Eastern Conference.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, who have lost seven straight games, they’ll be without their MVP for at least another few games.

According to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Millsap is expected to miss Atlanta’s next three games after undergoing a non-surgical procedure to deal with left knee synovitis:

According to InjurySportsClinic.net, knee synovitis “occurs when the synovial membrane, which lines and lubricates the knee joint, becomes inflamed. Synovitis may be caused by another condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, or may develop on its own.”

Symptoms include swelling and stiffness in the knee joint, which is obviously not great timing for the Hawks since the playoffs are just a few weeks away. Millsap has already missed the team’s last five games.

However, it’s good news that the procedure was not an actual surgery, and that he will be re-evaluated three games from now. That may not be enough to prevent the Hawks from spiraling further down the Eastern standings, especially since the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers entered Monday night’s action with an identical 37-36 record as Atlanta.

However, the Hawks’ next three games are against the tanking Phoenix Suns, the lowly Philadelphia 76ers and a completely unpredictable — albeit playoff desperate — Chicago Bulls team. Atlanta may be able to survive that slate of games with Ersan Ilyasova filling in at power forward.

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Here’s hoping Millsap’s knee issue doesn’t linger as the postseason arrives, because the Hawks have not been a second round playoff team with him on the court, let alone without him.