Zachary Engberg
2 min read • February 01, 2023
Posted in
The No. 2 team in the West announced on January 24 that center Steven Adams will miss 3-to-5 weeks after he suffered a right PCL sprain when he landed awkwardly diving after the ball on the final play against the Suns.
The Pro Basketball Docs expect Adams to work on a longer non-surgical recovery timeline of 4-to-6 weeks because of the importance of the stabilizing ligament, as evidenced by Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson's recent extended absence due to lingering swelling, instability in his injured knee.
Ja Morant's 29-year-old bodyguard led the Grizzlies with 11.5 rebounds and Xavier Tillman Sr., who has 6.8 points and 7.5 rebounds on 21.1 minutes in the last four games, will be the most essential fixer in this mid-season stretch.
Milwaukee Bucks' sixth-man Bobby Portis suffered a right MCL and high-ankle sprain on January 23 and he is likely to miss close to six weeks and 10-plus games, according to the Pro Basketball Docs.
The 28-year-old went down fighting rookie Jalen Duren for a rebound in the same game that both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton played after missing five and 18 games, respectively, with lingering knee soreness.
The Bucks, 33-17, are 5-0 with a plus-12.4 point differential since Antetokounmpo and Middleton returned and the combination of Joe Ingles – who returned just over a month ago from a torn ACL – Wesley Matthews, and Jevon Carter are patching up Portis' contributions.
Twenty-five-year-old small forward OG Anunoby has already missed two-plus games and will be out for at least another three after the Raptors' defensive stopper fell on his left forearm on an errant dunk attempt last Friday.
The 25-year-old has averaged 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and a league-high 2.1 steals on 45.7% shooting for the scuffling Raptors, 23-28, who are reportedly “taking calls” from teams interested in trading for the 6'7" Toronto fan favorite.
Precious Achiuwa has made gradual inroads into the Raptors' lineup and he has averaged 17.2 points and 10.5 rebounds on 61.8% shooting in the last six games.
For the third time in four NBA seasons, Pelicans' forward Zion Williamson is missing significant time with an injury, as the all-star starter was sidelined for the 15th game on Tuesday and will be out for at least another week with a right hamstring strain.
Chameleonic small forward Brandon Ingram returned on January 25 from a 30-game left big toe sprain and athletic forward Herbert Jones has played in seven straight after he's been spelled by sporadic back and knee issue and COVID. Rookie Dyson Daniels, however, is expected to miss additional games with a sprained ankle.
New Orleans, 26-25, is 3-11 without the 22-year-old dynamo and lost eight in a row entering Tuesday.
One year and 17 days since the last time he suited up for the Bulls, point guard Lonzo Ball is “nowhere close” to returning and he may be shut down for the 2022-23 season if his recovery remains stagnant, according to multiple reports.
The 25-year-old has undergone two left knee surgeries but reportedly still experiences chronic soreness that neither Ball nor the Bulls nor any of the multiple doctors he's consulted know the source of.
Chicago, 23-27, is percentage points back of a play-in spot and may be at a crossroads as the Bulls reportedly mull trading the likes of Zach Lavine, Alex Caruso, and Nikola Vucevic before the February 9th deadline.
Written by Zachary Engberg
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