The Grizzlies took a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round series with the Blazers after winning Game 3 in Portland last night, but suffered a loss in the process: PG Mike Conley was hit in the head by an inadvertent CJ McCollum elbow and had to be taken to the hospital after the game for further evaluation.
Memphis is optimistic that Conley is just fine, but he’ll likely have to go through concussion testing before he can get back on the court.
From ESPN:
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley was hospitalized Saturday night with a head injury he sustained during the Grizzlies’ 115-109 playoff victory against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Conley left Saturday’s game with 3:04 left in the third quarter after he was inadvertently hit in the head by an elbow from Portland guard C.J. McCollum. Conley absorbed the blow in the area between his cheekbone and eye. The blow knocked Conley to the floor, where he remained motionless for several seconds as play continued at the opposite end of the court.
Play was stopped moments later and several of the Grizzlies’ players, coaches and trainers rushed to Conley’s side. Conley was helped onto his feet and walked off the court and to the locker room with a towel covering his face. He was taken to a medical facility for further evaluations, team officials said.
“He was a little dizzy, but he was OK,” said Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, who was one of the first players over to check on Conley after he fell to the floor. “He got up and talked and walked back to the locker room. That’s all I know. That was the last time I saw him. I hope he will be OK.”
