On March 18, the Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Utah Jazz in a thrilling game that was ultimately a 114-104 win for the T-Wolves. While it was a great game for both sides, one person in particular did not have a great time. Jazz power forward John Collins suffered a head contusion injury while attempting to contest a dunk from star shooting guard Anthony Edwards.
John Collins Suffers Head Contusion Injury
Collins’ Injury Details
When Collins went up to contest Edwards’ dunk attempt with five and a half minutes left in the third quarter, he was essentially punched in the face. Edwards’ hand flew up during his dunk attempt with such force that Edwards was later seen shaking out his hand and checking for injuries. Unfortunately for Collins, this hand-head collision resulted in a head contusion injury that forced him to leave the game early.
The good news is that a head contusion is not a concussion. The difference is that a contusion refers to localized bruising or injury, while a concussion refers to more widespread injury around the brain and head. However, similar to a concussion, a head contusion can cause long-term injury, as with all injuries related to the brain. Collins and the Jazz must be cautious not to rush him back and risk further injury.
The average recovery time from a contusion is highly variable. The brain is an unpredictable organ, and recovery time is heavily based on the individual. According to the TBI recovery guide from the US Department of Health, recovery time can be anywhere from one week to three months. However, seeing that Collins is young and athletic, recovery time should be 2-3 weeks, maxing out at a month. Collins could be back in time for the Play-In Tournament. However, it is not guaranteed that he will be back in time.
The Jazz’s Playoff Chances
The Jazz’s playoff chances already weren’t looking particularly good. After yesterday’s game, they currently have a record of 29-39. They have lost eight of their 10 games, including an embarrassing series of stomps by the likes of the Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, and Denver Nuggets. They are the 12th seed in the Western Conference and are 6.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors, the current 10th seed. Barring a miracle Moneyball-type win streak, they will most likely not make the play-in, let alone the playoffs.
While the Jazz are not mathematically eliminated, their playoff chances are practically 0% with Collins out. He has been having a great season so far. He is averaging 14.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 1.2 APG. Collins has been durable, having played in 61 of a possible 63 games. Additionally, he has averaged 29 MPG in those 61 games. His efficiency has been great for his position at 58.1 eFG%. He has arguably been the second most important player on the Jazz behind top star Lauri Markkanen, who has also been having an amazing season, averaging 23 PPG and 8.3 RPG on 58.2 eFG%. Without Collins, the Jazz are most likely done for the season, especially with their current low ranking in the standings.
The Last Word on John Collins’ Injury
Head injuries are always scary. While they are not very common in the NBA, data from the NFL has shown that the CTE risk is high, and the long-term effects are frightening. The Jazz should not rush Collins back from injury. Their season is almost guaranteed to be over, barring a miracle. Collins’ injury is serious, and it is not worth risking further injury to have him play in meaningless games.
Collins is a terrific player and has been a great presence for the Jazz. He is exciting to watch, and hopefully, he will fully recover.
