Post by DiamondThief on Jan 22, 2015 18:31:16 GMT -8
Note: This story was updated on Jan. 24, at 2:08 p.m.
Jan. 24 -- Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge will be back sooner than expected. Much sooner.
Aldridge suffered a ligament tear in his left thumb during the Blazers win against Sacramento on Jan. 19. It was announced on jan. 22, following an MRI, that he would have surgery to reattach the ligament but, after testing the thumb in a splint at the practice facility this morning, has informed the team that he wished to postpone surgery and play with the splint.
It was reported by several reliable sources that he will return tonight when the Blazers play the Wizards at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The game starts at 7 p.m.
“I just want to try and play with it,” Aldridge told Yahoo Sports in a text message on Saturday afternoon. “We are having a good season and I want to keep it going. I’m going to try and play with it, if I can, and go from there.”
Aldridge had been expected to have surgery on the thumb and miss 6-8 weeks. If he is able to play the duration of the season and potentially the playoffs, he is expected to have the surgery following the conclusion of the season.
"(It) meant the world to me because it takes so much more responsibility off me personally,'' Blazers guard Damian Lillard told The Oregonian. "But I think it means more to the team because he's our best player and he's pushing himself through pain for the sake of the team. In a day where professional sports can be really selfish, I think this decision is selfless to the 100th power.''
The ninth-year power forward injured his left thumb late in the first quarter in the Blazers Jan. 19 game against the Sacramento Kings at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. He was attempting to bat the ball away from Kings' center DeMarcus Cousins during a rebound when the injury occurred.
Aldridge left the game and returned to the locker room, then to the Rebound Clinic on the Rose Quarter Campus, where he had an x-ray. The x-ray was negative for a break, as was reported by the team and by this forum last night. He underwent two MRI's, with teh latest being today, which confirmed the injury.
Aldridge is averaging team highs of 23.2 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Blazers, who are 31-12 on the season. He scored 10 points and had two steals before leaving the game against the Kings.
The team is already without starting center Robin Lopez, who is out with a fractured right hand, and backup center/forward Joel Freeland, out with a shoulder injury. Though the team has not announced a timeline, Lopez could return in early February. Freeland could be back around the same time.
Forward Nicolas Batum is listed as questionable with a right wrist injury and center Chris Kaman is doubtful with a leg injury, according to Saturday's injury report.
Click to read the Yahoo Sports article on Aldridge's return.
Click to read the O-Live article on Aldridge's return.
- ANM/MKM
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Graphic courtesy of David.