The playoff hopes of the Phoenix Suns took a hit Friday when forward Grant Hill underwent surgery on his right knee. He is expected to return before the end of the regular season, the team said.
According to the team, Hill was under the knife less than 30 minutes for a procedure performed by Suns orthopedic surgeon Dr. Thomas Carter, who repaired a medial meniscus tear.
Hill had an MRI on Thursday that revealed the tear. He sat out games Tuesday and Wednesday with the injury.
Hill, 39, has missed five games this season. In his previous three seasons with the Suns, he missed just three games.
Hill is averaging 10.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists and is Phoenix’s best 1-on-1 defender. In their last two games, the Suns have slid Jared Dudley to small forward and started Shannon Brown at shooting guard.
The Suns (25-26) are two games behind the Houston Rockets for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference.
Phoenix hosts New Orleans on Sunday, then begins a three-game road trip.
Oh come on! The Suns were never seriously in the playoff race…