2 min read • December 08, 2021
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Blazers all-star guard CJ McCollum was diagnosed with a pneumothorax, also called a collapsed lung, and will be kept in Portland to be evaluated further, the team announced Tuesday. The 11-14 Blazers gave no timetable for McCollum's return, but our analysis is that the 30-year-old will not return in this calendar year as his ribs and lung heal and he attempts to get his wind back. A comeback in a month's time would be good news, but his absence could bleed later into January. The injury comes at a bad time for the Blazers, who just diagnosed Damian Lillard with lower abdominal tendinopahty that could keep him out for an extended period of time as well.
The Blazers enter a challenging slate in their schedule, with games against the Warriors, Suns, Nets, Lakers, Jazz, Mavericks, Grizzlies (twice), Hornets, Hawks, Heat, and Cavaliers among their next 15.
McCollum suffered the injury in the 4th quarter of the 145-117 loss to the Celtics on Saturday night, and missed Monday's 102-90 loss with what Portland initially called a rib contusion, which we suspect turned into a small fracture. The fracture should heal relatively quickly, but McCollum's recovery will hinge on how well his lung reinflates, as it will do so slowly on its own.
McCollum joins Lillard, guard Anfernee Simons (sprained right ankle), and small forward Nassir Little (sprained left ankle) on the injured list, as Portland will turn to reserves Ben McLemore and Dennis Smith Jr. to give a scoring boost to last-man-standing Norman Powell.
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