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Injury bug hurting Blazers’ already tough playoff chances

By Nate Mann

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 14: The Portland Trail Blazers stand during the National Anthem before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 14: The Portland Trail Blazers stand during the National Anthem before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The injury bug has finally caught up with the Portland Trail Blazers after hitting several competing teams during the regular season.

Injuries to premier players have highlighted this NBA season. Gordon Hayward played less than six minutes for the Boston Celtics before suffering a fractured tibia and dislocated ankle. Kristaps Porzingis tore his ACL and not long after, DeMarcus Cousins tore his achilles. All three missed major portions of the season, hurting their respective teams’ chances in the playoffs.

A theme in the Western Conference, top-tier players missed several-week chunks due to nagging injuries.

Injuries to Blazers starters

For the most part, Portland avoided the plague. Damian Lillard sat out two short spans for a total of nine games. CJ McCollum‘s only absence came in the opening game of the 2017-2018 season for a cheesy six-step suspension.

An ankle injury sidelined Al-Farouq Aminu for four weeks despite the initial two-to-three week timetable. Jusuf Nurkic only missed three total games after battling injuries most of his career. Finally, Maurice Harkless sat the last nine games of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

Lots of minor ailments kept the starters out for short periods of time, but luckily none suffered a major injury that wounded the team.

Playoff injuries

Return of Moe

Still recovering from knee surgery, Harkless missed Game 1 of the playoffs.

His replacement, Evan Turner, fit perfectly with New Orleans’ defensive scheme. Off-ball defenders could help on Lillard without fear of giving up an open three. Turner therefore found himself open on the perimeter often, and the Pelicans dared him to shoot. He connected on 1/4 threes and 6/15 field goals in Game 1.

Fortunately, Moe returned for Game 2 off the bench. But with ET starting once again, New Orleans continued its lockdown defense on Dame and CJ. Turner played worse; he shot 0/6 in 20 minutes, attempted no three-pointers and finished with a plus/minus of -16.

Injuries to Turner, Nurkic

He only played 20 minutes due to a right toe injury suffered in the second half. He’s listed as questionable for Game 3, likely pushing Harkless back into the starting five (not the way we wanted it to happen).

Harkless shot 5/5 including one three-pointer for 11 points in 27 minutes. His perimeter presence kept Pelicans defenders honest, leading to a team-best plus/minus of +10.

Jusuf Nurkic also went down injured in the second half of Tuesday night’s game. He gingerly walked away from an offensive play and proceeded to quickly re-aggravate the later-diagnosed left leg contusion in a tangle up with Anthony Davis.

While he didn’t spend much time in the locker room like Turner, Nurkic sat on Portland’s bench with an ice pack over his left leg. According to Mike Richman, he was cleared to return but did not do so through the final 20 minutes of the game.

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The Blazers managed to avoid team-crippling injuries throughout the regular season. However, even minor injuries can crush playoff hopes as less games are available to miss.

Trailing 0-2 in the series, Portland needs Evan Turner and Jusuf Nurkic to be healthy for Game 3. Both are crucial pieces of the rotation and can push the Blazers to its full potential with Maurice Harkless healthy and starting.

Stay tuned for more information regarding Turner and Nurkic’s injury status. Portland plays game 3 of the series in New Orleans on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. PT.