The Portland Trail Blazers announced Thursday that LaMarcus Aldridge (lower back contusion) and Mo Williams (right hip strain) will both miss multiple games. From the team website:
Aldridge’s MRI confirmed the three-time All-Star power forward suffered a lower back contusion in Wednesday night’s loss to the Spurs at the AT&T Center. The injury occurred when Aldridge landed hard on his back after colliding with Spur center Aron Baynes at the 11:17 mark of the third quarter. Aldridge remained on the court for an extended period of time and had to be helped to the locker room by his teammates. X-rays taken after the game came back negative, though the MRI taken Thursday morning confirmed a soft tissue injury.
Aldridge will miss at least the next two games against the Pelicans on Friday in New Orleans and versus the Warriors Sunday back in Portland. He will be reevaluated next week, after which more might be known about his status going forward. He recently sat out five games with a left groin strain. Veteran forward Dorell Wright started in Aldridge’s place in a small lineup, with the Trail Blazers responding by going 4-1 in those contests.
“Unfortunately we played a few games without (Aldridge), so we’re accustomed to that kind of style of play,” said Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews after Wednesday night’s game. “We’re going to fight every game, we’re going to compete. Now it’s just time for us to make our own luck. Get the 50/50 balls, turn these games around, stop waiting for it to happen and just go make it happen like we were doing earlier in the year.”
Williams is expected to miss at least the next two weeks with a right hip strain, after which he will also be reevaluated. Williams missed the entire second half of Portland’s loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis after heading to the locker room midway through the second quarter and has not played since. Earl Watson picked up most of Williams’ minutes at point guard in Wednesday night’s game with CJ McCollum and Will Barton filling in at shooting guard.
Williams will miss at least eight games in the next two weeks and it’s possible he misses more depending on how the injury heals. The 6-1 combo guard had not missed a game due to injury this season before Wednesday, though he has missed four games at various times this season for personal reasons. Portland is 2-2 in those games.
