Puff Johnson leaves first half of Duke game with injury

Duke–North Carolina always delivers, with the latest matchup taking place in Chapel Hill. Things have gotten off to a rocky start for the Tar Heels, having to deal with Pete Nance‘s foul trouble and now, an injury to Puff Johnson.

Johnson limped off the court, seemingly grabbing his left leg. He immediately went to the bench to get looked at by the training staff before going back to the locker room. The injury occurred while scrambling on the ground before Duke hit a three-pointer.

North Carolina did provide an update on Johnson, saying a turned ankle was the problem. No exact timeline for a possible return was provided by the Tar Heels, leaving Johnson’s status in question. A potentially major loss going up against their arch-rivals.

ESPN provides update on Puff Johnson

ESPN’s Holly Rowe provided an update on Johnson later in the first half, confirming a right ankle was bothering the forward. Johnson is apparently in the hallway running on the ankle and figuring out if he is able to get back into the game. For now, things are not looking positive.

“He injured his right ankle,” Rowe said. “They’re not sure if he can return yet or not. They’ve had him in that back hallway with trainer Jack Albertson, running it out, seeing if he can return.”

Johnson did not sustain this injury on Saturday according to Rowe. She said Johnson left Friday’s practice with an issue and it’s in fact the same right ankle problem.

“I saw him leave the court yesterday in practice as well,” Rowe said. “I’m told it is the same injury. He’s going to have to see if he can fight through that.”

Head coach Hubert Davis will have to get creative with his rotation for the remaining minutes of the first half. In a must-win game for North Carolina, a nervy game is ahead.