The Portland Trail Blazers, coming off a blowout loss against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2, received some devastating news today. Zach Collins will be out for the remainder of the postseason.
Portland Trail Blazers’ Zach Collins Done for the Season
Collins’ Injury Requires Surgery
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Collins will require surgery on his injured left ankle. Collins exited during the play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies and hasn’t been able to return to the court. After that time, the Blazers deemed that Collins had “ankle inflammation”. However, two days ago, his MRI revealed something more severe: a stress fracture in his ankle.
The Trail Blazers are tied 1-1 in their series against the Lakers. They won’t have key frontcourt players available in Rodney Hood and Trevor Ariza. Without Collins, their frontcourt depth has become even thinner. This will be problematic against the Lakers’ bigs. Wenyen Gabriel will continue to start in his place during his absence.
What’s Next for the Blazers
The Trail Blazers will look to bounce back from their loss in Game 2. They need to play better on offense if they hope to beat the Lakers. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum will continue to carry a heavy load on offense for them. Lillard, who is dealing with a dislocated finger, will play in Game 3 according to Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. Fortunately for Lillard, the dislocated finger is not on his shooting hand. However, his injury is something to keep an eye on moving forward.
This season is certainly one to forget for Zach Collins. He only played in 11 games during the regular season due to a shoulder injury earlier in the season. During the regular season, he averaged seven points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. The 22-year-old will rehab and look to come back stronger next year.
Game 3 of the Lakers vs. Trail Blazers series is scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 ET.
Main Photo
