Allen Crabbe optimistic about return ... despite crutches

Allen Crabbe showed up at Centre Bell Wednesday on crutches, but despite appearances both he and Atkinson were optimistic. His left ankle sprain, suffered early in the Nets win over Detroit, appears and the effect isn’t likely a long term issue, Brian Lewis reports from Montreal.

“It’s a mild sprain: That’s the diagnosis. I don’t anticipate him playing Friday [versus the Knicks],” Kennty Atkinson said. “We’ll see. It’s possible, but not probable.”

It’s the same ankle Crabbe injured last year, which cost him the entire preseason and slowed him down early in the regular season.

“Not serious. Yeah, it’s the same ankle,” Crabbe told The Post. “But it’s nothing bad, though.”

“My hope is its as short term as possible. That’s the desire; because, yes, any injury it sets you back. That’s just how it is,” said Atkinson. “But we’ve got a crack staff that’s on him and just hoping it’s not too bad.”