C.J. McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers were hoping this could be the year. Now, the franchise hopes McCollum is just healthy for the postseason.
The dynamic guard for Portland left Saturday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs with an undisclosed injury after a fall following a drive to the basket. With the Blazers trailing 76-74 to the Spurs with about seven minutes left in the third quarter, McCollum drove toward the hoop and landed awkwardly.
While laying on the ground in agony, play continued up court until a stoppage in play could focus on McCollum, grasping his knee, on the end line under the hoop.
McCollum goes up for a layup and takes a hard fall. Has to be helped to the locker room. We will have updates as soon as we get them…. pic.twitter.com/YZNN8uneW7
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) March 17, 2019
McCollum was helped to the locker room, and reports came soon after that the star guard would undergo tests to examine the extent of what could be a serious injury for the Portland cornerstone.
Portland guard @CJMcCollum will undergo an MRI on his left knee on Sunday, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 17, 2019
There was some positive news, though, as Blazers coach Terry Stotts announced x-rays on the high-scoring guard were negative.
Terry Stotts says xRays were negative on CJ McCollum and he will fly back with team and receive more tests
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) March 17, 2019
It’s a nervy time for Trail Blazers fans for sure, as Portland sits in the forth seed in the Western Conference right now and hopes to be competitive in a stacked conference featuring the Houston Rockets, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors, and feisty Denver Nuggets. Losing McCollum for any time could hurt their position in the West, but a serious injury could significantly tank their hopes to finally break through in a conference
