Report: Batum expected to miss rest of 1st round

Swingman Nicolas Batum will miss the rest of the Charlotte Hornets' first-round series with the Miami Heat, sources told Cleveland.com's Chris Haynes.

The Hornets, however, have only disclosed that he will miss Saturday's Game 3, and his status will be updated afterward.

Batum suffered a serious-looking sprained left ankle late in Charlotte's 115-103 Game 2 loss on Wednesday. He left the game and did not return. Teammate Al Jefferson told reporters he didn't think Batum would be back in the series.

The 27-year-old Frenchman was due to undergo an MRI on Thursday. X-rays were negative, reports Haynes.

It's likely a major blow to the Hornets, who trail Miami 2-0. Batum was second on the team in scoring, steals, and 3-point percentage this season and becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. He originally hurt the same left ankle in the penultimate game of the regular campaign and sat out the season finale.