Blazers vs Hawks: DeMarre Carroll out with Achilles strain

The Atlanta Hawks will be operating short-handed on Friday evening, as they attempt to extend their winning streak to 18 games. Small forward DeMarre Carroll has been ruled out as a result of an Achilles strain, the team announced on Friday evening.

Carroll has been fantastic for the Hawks this season, operating as the team's best perimeter defender and continuing his hot shooting from the outside. In 41 games, the 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and Carroll is shooting 46.6% from the field and 39.7% from three-point distance.

Last season, Atlanta compiled a dismal record in the absence of Carroll, but with Thabo Sefolosha and Kent Bazemore on board to provide defensive insurance, the Hawks are 3-2 this season when he is unable to play. The Hawks will deploy Sefolosha alongside Kyle Korver to begin the night, but expect to see a heavy dose of Bazemore against Portland's talented perimeter assault.

Stay tuned for the latest on Carroll's status in the coming days, but given the late nature of the scratch from the lineup, there doesn't appear to be cause for alarm.